SEECA Provides Toddler with Glasses

While the team leaders were busy setting up base, they kept meeting one particular businessman who seemed to have more on his mind than usual.

We know he had lost his business and home in New Orleans from Katrina. He had moved twice since the storm and was settling in Houma with his family…. But something was weighing heavy on him, so heavy that he looked like he could not make another decision.

As he sat down with us, he forced a smile and said “How ya’all do’n?” -A typical greeting in Terrebonne Parish.
“We’re fine, but how are YOU? You look like you just lost your best friend.” we replied. The businessman responded with the usual response we found after the storms: “we’re fine…. I have a job and my family. We’re better off than most folks.” We spoke awhile and asked again, “But how ARE YOU guys doing with it all?” He finally confessed, “Well, we found out our 14 month old daughter needs glasses. We thought something was wrong with her because she wasn’t walking. The doctor said to have her eyes checked. We did, and it was over $200 to get her glasses. I told my wife, maybe in a couple weeks when I get another paycheck…our house payment is double what it was in New Orleans and we had to replace EVERYTHING. Folks have been real nice to us, but FEMA and the insurance company are dragging their feet and I just can’t keep up. We just can’t do it right now, and this is our daughter”.

We asked him about other needs: do they still get food stamps from FEMA? He said he thought there was still something left on the card, but not much. He had to borrow clothes for work, he and his wife were sharing a winter coat. “We left in the middle of summer, we don’t have any winter clothes for us or the children”. His wife later joined us, and we were able to find out from her more about their specific needs, and where they were the most desperate.

From that, we set out to see what we could do. After speaking with one of the locals, we were told about Dr. A J DelaHoussaye, from Seeca Vision, who helps his community. We decided to drop in and see if he could assist this family. We spoke with his office Manager, Lacey, and left. Within 15 minutes, Lacey called us. “The people in the office overheard our conversation and want to help! Dr. DelaHoussaye said he’d waive his fee and pay for the lenses if the office would chip in for the frames! Can you get the family in THIS AFTERNOON?"

I immediately called the family. The father couldn’t believe it! As I was giving the address to the father, he said, “Oh no, I think that’s the office where we went, and we can’t afford those glasses…” You could hear the despair in his voice… not again. We explained to him “But you don’t understand, there will not be a charge to you, they are donating them to us for you! All you have to do is SHOW UP!!” The father was so overwhelmed he handed the phone to his wife. They drove straight to the doctor’s office that afternoon.

Seeca Vision called after the family left. “I recognized them the minute they walked in the door. They were so hopeless when they left here the first time because they couldn’t afford the glasses. We were so happy we could help them. She looks so cute in her new little pink glasses! – She’s adorable! Thank you so much for allowing us to be part of it! Thank you for what you’re doing in our community!”

Not only were we able to help provide free glasses for their baby, but also winter coats for the family, and assistance with FEMA. In addition we were able to provide them with a substantial amount of cash to help them through the months ahead while they wait on the SBA loan for his business, FEMA, insurance reimbursements and more paychecks!

THIS is what’s it’s all about: helping families out of their crisis!