Grateful parent thanks Lavelle Fund

Angel Torres is a 3 year old little boy who was born with downs syndrome. Unable to see he had been on the waiting list for eye-surgery since birth.

Still bottle fed, because his lack of sight made it impossible to feed himself, Angel was too weak to be able to receive the therapies that would enable him to walk and achieve his full potential.

Fortunately for Angel, his mother learned about the doctors at the Visualiza Clinic in Guatemala City.

Thanks to their partnership with IEF, and through them support from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Visualiza's social sevices program provides affordable, quality eye-care to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Angel was operated on by Dr. Mariano Yee, and since then has made great progress, he eats ordinary food, and is now strong enough to go to therapy on a regular basis.

Andrew Fisher, Executive Director of the Lavelle Fund along with members of the Lavelle Board were in Guatemala recently and while there, met with Angel and is mother and were presented with a plaque in appreciation of the support that made Angel's surgery possible.

The Lavelle Fund for the Blind is dedicated to supporting programs that promote the spiritual,moral, intellectual and physical development of blind and low-vision people of all ages, together with programs that help people avoid vision loss.

A Lifetime of Service – Dr. Lakshmi Rahmathullah

For the Rahmathullah family from India, service to others is a way of life. IEF’s Sustainability Specialist Raheem Rahmathullah learned well the lessons of working for a better life for those less fortunate. Soon to turn 80, his mother Dr. Lakshmi Rahmathullah has striven for over a half century to benefit the poor, particularly women and children. Early in her life, she was influenced by Mother Teresa under whom she studied for a year. A general physician still practicing in Kariapatti, India, she is recognized internationally as an authority on micronutrients, particularly vitamin A. Her work has earned her many honors, yet she remains committed to serving the people. Her son Raheem furthers her legacy through his work with IEF to expand eye care in the developing world by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of eye clinics and hospitals. The IEF is proud of its association with Dr. Rahmathullah and extend the warmest of birthday greetings.