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SHREVEPORT, LA – Monday, December 23, 2019 – Thanksgiving took on a whole new meaning this year for men and women like Ronald Johnson and Charlotte Cherry, who were part of a group of special patients in the ARK-LA-TEX undergoing cataract surgery November 25 & 26 at no cost thanks to the launch of a local community service program called ‘Giving Thanks, Saving Vision.’
“I assumed I would just continue to slowly go blind and lose my vision,” said Charlotte Cherry. “When they called me from the surgery center and told me I qualified for the program and would receive free cataract surgery, I couldn’t stop crying.” When Cherry first heard about the program, she decided to not fill out the paperwork because she thought she would never qualify. “I still can’t believe it. This is like a dream really coming true,” she said.
Ronald Johnson’s vision had been deteriorating for years, so he went to the local WalMart to have his vision checked. When his local optometrist, Dr. Jana Ponder told him about ‘Giving Thanks, Saving Vision,’ Mr. Johnson couldn’t believe his good fortune. “I didn’t know anything about the program,” Johnson said. “All I knew is that I was going blind and was not able to find work because I can’t see to drive. Thanks to Dr. Ponder and these surgeons, this is going to be the best Thanksgiving and Christmas ever! I’m even scheduled to go ‘Ring the Bell’ for the Salvation Army on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, so I can’t wait to have my cataract surgery.”
Dr. Lusk said he and his sons Bryan Lusk, MD and Jeffrey Lusk, MD developed and funded ‘Giving Thanks, Saving Vision’ to help restore vision loss from cataracts and other leading causes of blindness to the area’s less fortunate. “It is simply our way of giving back to our local communities and families throughout the ARK-LA-TEX who have helped support Lusk Eye Specialists over the past three decades,” said Dr. Lusk, founder of Lusk Eye Specialists.
In addition to support by local and national health care agencies and Lusk Eye Specialists, primary eye doctors throughout the region have helped spread the news of ‘Giving Thanks, Saving Vision’ to their patients and communities. “We would especially like to thank Dr. Ponder and Dr. Terry Foster for referring in this year’s patients, who are undergoing cataract surgery November 25 & 26,” said Dr. Jeffrey Lusk.
Dr. Lusk said he and his sons are starting this annual event because of the number of patients in the ARK-LA-TEX going blind from cataracts who do not have medical insurance or the financial means to pay for needed eye surgery. “As soon as we saw the need, we knew we had to find a way to help our less fortunate friends and neighbors,” he said.
“We expect these two days of surgery to be among the most rewarding and fulfilling days not only for not only these special patients, but also for our doctors and staff here at Lusk Eye Specialists,” Dr. James Lusk said.
“My father and brother and I are blessed by the sincerity and appreciation these patients have already shared with us regarding their upcoming cataract procedures on November 25 & 26,” said Dr. Bryan Lusk. “Their comments and thankfulness serve as quiet reinforcement that our efforts to help change lives through this program have not gone unnoticed,” he said.
For additional information regarding ‘Giving Thanks, Saving Vision’ please call Danielle at Lusk Eye Specialists at 318-222-5555 or visit us at https://www.luskeye.com/
Release ID: 88940067