Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
We boarded a plane in Sacramento early Sunday morning ready to spread our wings and go where neither of us had ever gone before … to Milwaukee. The land of brats, brews and cheese. Three of my favorite things. However, I quickly reminded myself this was not a trip about me. This was a trip about people I hadn’t yet met, but were looking forward to us being there in more ways than I could ever imagine.
SeeZar arrived at the Northside YMCA in Milwaukee early Monday morning with our Mobile Clinic staff transforming him from an RV into a fully functioning doctors office just in time for our first patient of the day at 9am. For VSP Doctors John Warren, O.D. and Chap Leffinwell, O.D. it was revolving door of patients for rest of the day.
We received a visit from the local Fox affiliate, Fox 6 News, and had the 
pleasure of introducing the Mobile Eyes program to their viewers. It was during this time we met Alice and her two sons who all were in need of an eye exam (it had been years since they had one) and new eyewear. Alice showed us her current glasses, readers she bought at Wal-Mart, that were so stretched out they barely stayed on her face. But as she noted, they worked. However, she wasn’t surprised to learn she needed more than readers as she noticed her eyes had been straining for awhile.
Her older son is a baseball player and revealed he’s had trouble seeing far away, at night and, more recently, has trouble focusing on items close up after losing his glasses over a year ago. Being able to see better is something he knows will help him both in school and playing baseball. Such a simple realization to most people but such a powerful example of why the Mobile Eyes program is so important.
When Alice and the boys finish up to leave, I find myself enveloped in her arms for one of the biggest hugs I have ever
received. It is these moments that make our day. We are off for day two of outreach in Milwaukee and I can’t wait to see who we will meet today…and have some more cheese.
Wow, you guys are great. Not only are you helping others see but I couldn’t help but notice your photo depicts a woman happily holding glasses while wearing a Michael Jackson shirt. Bit of VSPblog trivia: An earlier blog pointed out that the late Mr. Jackson was a huge advocate of sunglasses, specifically the aviator style, and his mass popularity helped encourage others to wear them as well, which in turn protected countless pairs of eyes from the perils of UV rays and (potentially, if they were the right kind of glasses) glare.
It’s so amazing to see first hand what VSP is doing out in our communities. Thanks for Sharing Jill!