Hope Floats

The Mercy Vision mobile eye team, part of the Mercy Ships organization, just wrapped up nine months in the port of Tema, Ghana, where they performed more than 1,350 surgical procedures. The team of volunteer vision care professionals dealt with many cases of blindness aboard their floating hospital, including their 1,000th patient Abdulai Shitu. The 70-year-old Shitu, who had completely lost his vision, was diagnosed with advanced, blinding cataracts in both of his eyes. After a routine surgery, Shitu’s vision was restored, and he was finally able to see the face of the grandchild who he had previously only been able to hear and touch. The Mercy Ships organization was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens. They have performed more than 2,000,000 services in more than 50 nations, including dental and medical treatments, construction projects and community assistance. The Mercy Ships is continually recruiting eyecare professionals. For more information, visit the web site at www.mercyships.org
— Lauren Taylor