Alexandra Luevano needed glasses. Optometrist Gregory Johnson, a nondenominational Christian who works at Virginia Vision Therapy, was looking for ways he could volunteer. When Johnson learned that Luevano, his new patient, was the program director of Catholic Charities Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic, he realized his prayers had been answered. “God did the rest,” said Luevano. Less than a year after Johnson and Luevano met, the Mother of Mercy clinic in Woodbridge began offering in-house eye care for clinic patients.
On the opening morning, April 25, Johnson saw five patients, including William Brefo. Though he’s long had problems with his eyes, it’s been difficult for him to receive medical care. “I’m very grateful because I haven’t had my eyes checked in a long time, over five years. I lost my insurance from work and I’m not working right now,” he said. “(Mother of Mercy helps) with my medication, my treatments, all of my health problems. They’re doing great.”
Ernesto Unias made an appointment because he was having trouble reading. His wife Blanca Cortez also was having vision problems and her eyes were burning. “(Being able to get eye care) is a blessing from God,” said Cortez. “God blesses (the doctors’) hearts so they can treat the illnesses we have.”
Funding for the new medical equipment, such as a phoropter — the instrument patients look through to see an eye chart during vision tests — came from an unexpected source, said Luevano. “We submitted for a grant (for general operating expenses) not thinking about eye care and they actually ended up giving us more money than we asked for, which was the perfect amount we needed,” she said. “It’s all God.”
With Johnson’s help, volunteer John Mallonee ordered the necessary equipment. Northern Virginia Family Service, a local nonprofit, will mail pairs of glasses to patients who need them. Though they hope more optometrists and ophthalmologists volunteer, for now Johnson will be at the clinic one morning a month. Currently, there is a waiting list of more than 200 patients looking for eye care, said Luevano.
Through his work, Johnson has seen what a difference having healthy, functioning eyes makes in a person’s life. “A lot about how we see is how we think, and our emotions and our vision are intertwined very deeply,” he said. “So changing how someone sees can really make or break their life.”
Luevano is grateful that Mother of Mercy is able to offer this new service to patients. “It’s such a blessing that God is able to do this through this clinic,” she said.
