Day Twelve - Hello Bangkok ! We can't wait to see Sarah & Ian ! ! !
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Day Eleven - Cruisin'through Kathmandu Cate on Thamel Street Kathmandu is an incredibly diverse historic city with breathtaking Newari architecture , centuries old Hindu and Buddhist religious sites, and serves as a traveler's off beat intersection . Stepping into Kathmandu is like stepping into another world that everybody should experience at least once in their lifetime. Cate on the roof top of a Buddhist Monastery overlooking the Boudhanath Stupa Cate on the Boudhanath Stupa . The prayer flags The five colors are arranged from left to right in a specific order: blue, white, red, green, and yellow. The five colors represent the five elements and the Five Pure Lights . Different elements are associated with different colors for specific traditions, purposes and sadhana . Blue symbolizes the sky and space, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. According to Traditional T
Day Nine - Post Op & Hospital Visits Blindness is an underlying cause of poverty and hunger in developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that of the world’s 39 million blind people : 90% live in developing countries 80% of the cases are avoidable or treatable 48% are blind because of cataracts SEE International is restoring sight and transforming lives.
Day Eight - Second Day of Surgery The second day started out with post operative (post op) examinations of the surgeries performed the previous day. The patients are lined up, as shown in the attached picture, waiting for reexamination of the results. Their family members are waiting with anticipation of the results in the hallway. All results were beautiful! Dr. Janal Shah examines the eye of a previously blind woman. The simple 20 minute surgery has restored her sight. Immediately following post op, the surgical team suited up for a second round of surgery. Today, the team conducted 32 cataract surgeries and one pterygium. Cate was busy helping the pros all day. Dr. Preeti Shah and her husband Dr. Janak Shah along with Dr. Olivia Dam made it look simple. Cate delivers antibiotics to the patient. Cate patches the eye of a patient after completion of the surgery.
Day Seven - Goodbye Mumbai, Hello Siliguri Surgery Begins ! On our way from Mumbai to Siliguri Tuk Tuk (pronounced took took) trip to the clinic Cate arrives in a Tuk Tuk at the clinic with Dr. Olivia Dam (SEE International Ophthalmologist from Canada in black), Dr. Preeti Shah (SEE International Ophthalmologist from Mumbai, India next to Dr. Dam) and an anesthesiologist from India. The Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International team didn't waste any time getting surgery underway. The first day involved 25 manual small incision cataract surgeries (MSICS) and one pterygium . The SEE team started surgery at 3:30pm and finished at 10:30pm. At the invitation of eye surgeons in developing countries, and with the approval of local health and civic authorities, SEE International recruits, organizes, and deploys numerous small surgical teams worldwide to restore sight to underserved populations. Since being founded in 1974, SEE’s eye surgeons have ex