for a huge portion of the world’s population: tens of millions of lives broken by pain and suffering that could have been alleviated. What do you think? And there are victories. At this moment, Sarah—the woman with the melting corneas—and another desperate case from Liberia are receiving free, sight-saving operations that I’ve arranged in Connecticut. What do you think? And nine months after I return home, Robert and I are reviewing the plans for a new clinic and operating theater by email. He’s told me that the work we did together continues to benefit his office organization and the care of his patients. Still, he has not consulted me on a single patient, nor used me for any professional development since my return. I’ve yet to receive any data from the outcome study I put in place. My offers of support and requests for further information from The Sheikh Zayed Center in The Gambia have also gone unanswered, after an initial correspondence confirmed mutual enthusiasm. What do you think? Robert has asked when I’ll return to Liberia, and wants me to accompany him on an outreach mission “up-country.” I’m still waiting to see whether he upholds his end of our mentoring agreement. What do you think? Then, out of the blue, Robert sends me a short video, without comment. It renews my hope. It reminds me what this is all about. What do you think? The video was taken inside a poorly lit mud hut somewhere in the Liberian countryside. A bright-eyed, three-year-old girl I recognize waves her hands in glee and runs toward
for a huge portion of the world’s population: tens of millions of lives broken by pain and suffering that could have been alleviated. What do you think? And there are victories. At this moment, Sarah—the woman with the melting corneas—and another desperate case from Liberia are receiving free, sight-saving operations that I’ve arranged in Connecticut. What do you think? And nine months after I return home, Robert and I are reviewing the plans for a new clinic and operating theater by email. He’s told me that the work we did together continues to benefit his office organization and the care of his patients. Still, he has not consulted me on a single patient, nor used me for any professional development since my return. I’ve yet to receive any data from the outcome study I put in place. My offers of support and requests for further information from The Sheikh Zayed Center in The Gambia have also gone unanswered, after an initial correspondence confirmed mutual enthusiasm. What do you think? Robert has asked when I’ll return to Liberia, and wants me to accompany him on an outreach mission “up-country.” I’m still waiting to see whether he upholds his end of our mentoring agreement. What do you think? Then, out of the blue, Robert sends me a short video, without comment. It renews my hope. It reminds me what this is all about. What do you think? The video was taken inside a poorly lit mud hut somewhere in the Liberian countryside. A bright-eyed, three-year-old girl I recognize waves her hands in glee and runs toward