“We face a humanity too precious to neglect.” These were the words, often expressed by my grandpa, Dr. Lowell Gess, who passed away June 21, 2022, just shy of his 101st birthday. Two weeks prior to his death, he told me, “Debby, you bring joy to others by restoring their vision. How can they not thank God when they can see?”
My sister, Becky, put it best in saying that he always responded to Jesus, even in the last days on earth. His prayer for Central Global Vision Fund, a nonprofit founded by his passion, was to bring sight and eye care to those around the world. He and I would talk often about his experiences as a medical missionary and the ultimate goal in sharing the love of Christ.
In November 2021, I went to Guatemala to learn how to do small incision cataract surgery, which is different than how we operate in the United States. Cataracts can be more dense, power can go on and off requiring a back-up source, and equipment options are sometimes less. Eye for God ministries — led by Dr. Bert Bowden and his wife, Connie — continues to train surgeons and spread the love of God through doing eye surgery in Guatemala as well as around the world.
In July 2022, I returned to El Faro in Guatemala with the team to take care of patients. The week consisted of getting patients ready for surgery and addressing cataracts, glaucoma, and pterygium (a growth on the eye from the sun). This was an important trip to bring less invasive glaucoma surgery to other parts of the world. This has been my prayer for years. More importantly, after checking patients the following day, we shared about spiritual blindness, and the love of Jesus.
I want to thank our Lord, Central Global Vision Fund, and our faithful supporters for helping over 45 patients see again. I want to thank my grandpa for all of his daily prayers to bring minimally invasive glaucoma surgery to the third world and to continue to help the blind through cataract surgery. Lastly, thank you Dr. Bowden and Connie for being such faithful servants.
God Bless,
Deb Gess Ristvedt
