Unsung Heroes

Over Christmas, I hiked Black Mountain in Arizona. Each step forward was progress and as you surveyed the peak ahead, another peak appeared. There is great wisdom in the book title, Mountains Beyond Mountains (Tracy Kidder). In my other life, I work in Liberia as an ophthalmologist. My focus is always vision. I arrive home where the annoying TV heralds the Kardashians, the new 'reality tv' for Americans abbreviated by commercials on new drugs sure to keep you youthful, and political vitriol. So let me share my unsung heroes who climb these Mountains beyond Mountains and how can we brighten their photographic story?

 This is "Refuge Place" (www.refugeplaceinternational.org) founded by Dr. Mosoka Fallah. He spends over half his salary on funding this medical clinic located in the Chicken Soup area of Monrovia, Liberia. He shared that the book, Mountains Beyond Mountains was an inspiration for him to pursue his PhD and return to Liberia. Last year, the clinic provided care to 9314 patients in 15 slums.  A meager $100 USD keeps the electricity operational for one month.

This is the worst time of day to take a photograph--high noon. Should you brighten the yellow wall or keep it dingy mustard. Should the red words on the wall be brightened since this is the central core of the story.

Photographic critique: Tips to photographing dark, beautiful faces in bad light?

Kate, is my colleague and dear Friend who is a supply chain and logistics expert in global health. She has received 7 shipping containers from Project Cure (https://projectcure.org) and carefully worked with numerous hospitals and clinics (coordinating hundreds of volunteers) to battle rain, mud and treacherous roads. Here we are at Refuge Place learning about their work with mothers and children. Kate makes Bear Grylls look like a tourist (sorry Bear but you met your British match!). A good spot of English tea will make her smiles and she stays smiling in Liberia heat no matter the obstacle! Another unsung hero...

Photographic critique: Again high noon and the light on the left window blows everything up. Everyone was tired after a long day but Kate is the central highlight and she is smiling! Always difficult leaving at the light of dawn over back roads to a new clinic. Ideally, spend the night to get up at dawn--not always realistic or practical. Flash!

Bionca is an MPH statistician at the University of Minnesota. She is always willing to give a hand and she is a talented dancer. She has managed to teach dancing: Tango, West coast swing, East coast swing and all manner of dance steps to anyone willing to learn. She immersed herself in French so she might one day help in Global Health in Guinea. She is a real humanitarian who has been visiting clinics on her "spare time" when most people are binge watching Netflix. She recently asked me to write her a letter of recommendation for medical school. I was thrilled that our future is going to be bright with people like her entering US healthcare with positive energy!

Photographic critique: a 12 o-clock challenge. The faded poster in equatorial light begs to be brightened, the faded colors of the shirts begs brightening as well. Thoughts on how to brighten the blues and reds in camera raw?

Friends for life.

Photographic critique: Carry a neutral density filter for the sky or post?

Waiting for Simulators and More Training

The Missionaries of Charity brought this blind boy from Maryland Country in Liberia for care by car, bus and then walked more than 10 kilometers (that they would admit to). 

I shared with them my visit to Mother Teresa's Calcutta chapel to pay homage and the "story" shared with me by a Sikh Taxi driver. He had reported that the lights went out in Calcutta when Mother Teresa died. These wonderful, compassionate and dedicated ladies nodded and smiled indicating that this was the veritable truth. They had trained in Calcutta with Mother before coming to Africa. I explained the end stage of the bilateral detachments and did not recommend cataract surgery. The sisters committed to pray for miraculous healing and additional equipment to train doctors in Africa to diagnose sooner and be able to treat.

Dr. John is a committed physician with Samaritan's Purse. This good Samaritan would also like an eye clinic and more training for his clinic. They continue to provide equitable and low cost care to all.

Dr. Allen Eghrari from Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins is kneeling (I am hiding in the middle back row) has spearheaded training in Liberia. Here we are with a committed group of eye care professionals. We hope to use virtual reality simulators to train them all to provide basic eye care in many counties. This picture was taken at the first Scientific writing workshop to help spur clinical research ideas to publication.