Tuesday in the Cleveland Clinic was a different kind of day as Cleveland Public Schools were closed to make way for voting polls. Instead, we saw children living in homeless shelters, children whose parents are currently in the prison system as well as an afternoon full of walk-ins. When we pulled up the Red Cross building at 7:30 there were already several families waiting to be seen.

There were many touching stories today but perhaps the one that touched us the most was Terrel, aka TJ, who was only in Kindergarten. He had a +8.00 sphere in both eyes. He cried hysterically when we had to put the dilation drops in his eyes, so much so that the drops did not take and we had to dilate him again. Thankfully, Dr. B came to the rescue and had TJ close his eyes and blink to get the drops in his eyes and his pupils finally dilated. His twin sister, Terrela, also needed glasses. They were both so cute! Pictures will come later....

We also found out that Augenafaye, aka Peaches, is a whiz on the tonometer. She came to the rescue several times when the lines were backed up and we needed to move quickly. She had a touch we have never seen before and gets the puff of air in each eye in record time! Turns out that Rodney has a talent for dilation, too. Would would have known?

Several of us (Tessa, Paola and Bridgette) also had the rare opportunity to learn how to trace and edge lenses and fit them into the frames in the Vision Van. A real treat we all don't work in labs.

And last, a parent brought us two sheet cakes as a thank you for all the work we've been doing thus far! Yum!

Tomorrow it's been rumored that we will be seeing 400 kids! Better get some sleep...after the Cleveland Cavaliers game, that is.

We'll check in again tomorrow...stay tuned.