TCNJ student, Joshua Lerman, joined us on the October 2023 Ophthalmology mission at the Centro Medico Central Romana in La Romana serving as our translator. The team performed 37 surgeries, vision screenings, and provided nearly 100 pairs of prescription eyeglasses. Recently, Joshua shared a thank you with HTCNJ:

When I was offered to come along the Healing the Children NJ trip to Dominican Republic, I remember sparing no seconds in my reply. It was an immediate yes. Although I agreed to come along for a unique, rewarding opportunity, I could not have imagined the journey that awaited me on the other side.

Our first day consisted of evaluating patients to determine if they required surgery or a visit to the eye-glasses clinic. I was stationed at the end of the hallway, where I met with patients to schedule their appointment based on the criteria concluded by the doctors. While I was speaking with the patients and their families, I had the help of wonderful nurses to keep the cogs spinning. Aside from the relationships with my team members, every time a child walked through the door a new connection bloomed. Whether it was a fist bump, a high-five, or the brightest smile, I felt grateful for the opportunity to better the lives of so many children.

The following days of the mission were the most eye opening for me. While previously creating appointments for families, in the pre-op room my real job would begin. Having never interpreted in a professional setting, I was understandably nervous. The HTCNJ team dispelled that fear by reminding me that I was an integral part of the mission, even if I was a college student amongst professionals. Since the patients were mostly young children, I was mainly communicating with their parents. I was pleasantly surprised to see the comfort the parents expressed when interacting with me, putting an emphasis on the sense of belonging that an interpreter may provide to patients with language barriers. The trust the families put in not only me, but the rest of the nurses, techs, and surgeons, underscored HTCNJ’s role in improving the lives of countless children.

My role in the pre-op room was key in determining the patients’ condition for surgery, and verifying personal information and medical history. However, my interactions weren’t limited to pre-op analysis. When patient flow was slowed, I had the chance of getting to know some patients on a more personal level. I was surprised to meet a patient who was actually born in New Jersey, as his father had described to me. The next day, I had an interesting conversation with a young girl on why she preferred an ostrich plushie over a rabbit. Another time, I somehow found myself scrolling through my Spanish song collection to see which one a little boy liked to dance to the most. Ultimately, I was attempting to bring smiles to the faces of children who were nervous, scared, or already excited to be there. I was shocked to see that in reality, they were the ones bringing a smile to my face. One story I won’t forget is that a girl was excited for us to perform surgery on her because she was being ridiculed in school. Being in a similar spot before, I knew right then how much it meant for her to be there, and to receive care from our team.

HTCNJ allowed me to feel what it is like to make a difference in the world. Even though our mission was focused in one hospital, we impacted the lives of countless children, friends, and families. In the end, I really struggle to find the right words to describe the impact this trip had on me. Forming bonds with children, gaining the trust of their parents, and finally seeing them happily rejoice in the end lead me to experience a feeling that was unfamiliar. I came into this trip with high expectations, and this amazing team of surgical technicians, nurses, administrators, and doctors exceeded them by an immeasurable amount. I hope to assist with more HTCNJ trips in the future, as I have no other way of describing this experience other than life changing for many children, and life changing for me.

I would like to extend my gratitude to all of HTCNJ, with special thanks to Joy Ewing and Katherine Weaver for manning the pre-op room with me, and Isabel Kentengian for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this mission.