FEATURE STORY
charge, by world-class ophthalmologists who volunteer their time and skills. Surgical assistants,
able to see it.” Board of directors member Dr. John Vandyck,
with WCF altered that decision. “In the ’70s, I made the choice to postpone
translators, technicians, and others round out
an ophthalmic surgeon from Paris, Tenn.,
my college education until my youngest son
the team. Hundreds of pairs of prescription
says that Hudson is the “backbone of WCF,
entered kindergarten,” Hudson says. “I really
eyeglasses are distributed to patients who have
working tirelessly to make certain that each of
appreciated my college courses when I returned
vision problems that don’t require surgery.
our campaigns is a success. Her dedication to
to school in my 30s. I was that older student
One of the favorite parts of Hudson’s job is
our cause, her attention to endless details, her
who sat on the front row and never missed a
assembling the mission teams. “After months
boundless energy and enthusiasm, and most
class. The education I received at the University
of talking with team members on the phone
importantly, her true compassion for those who
of Memphis provided me with the knowledge,
and swapping emails, it’s inspiring to see
are less fortunate inspire us all.”
confidence and skills I needed for my work with
people, many of whom have never met, come
Dr. Thomas Steinemann, a Swiss-trained
together to perform as a group,” she says. “I’ve
physician living in Mexico, puts it simply: “What
others to continue their education. It is never too
never been disappointed in the attitudes and
they do is everyday procedure, but to us it is a
late to take a class or pursue a degree.”
enthusiasm of team members. They work long
miracle.”
hours without complaint because they realize
At age 36, the mother of three received
the World Cataract Foundation. I encourage
Hudson continues to put those skills to use at WCF. “Our heartstrings are pulled every time
that the surgeries they provide will allow people
a bachelor of science in education degree as
we embark on a mission,” she says. “We recently
to see their loved ones again and become
part of the last graduating class of Memphis
sent a team for the first time to Peru. I just
productive members of society.”
State University in December 1993. Her plan
received word that the trip was a success.”
Hudson recalls the experience of a blind woman in Mexico who gave birth to a child
was to teach school when her daughter began kindergarten, but the life-changing mission trip
and raised her without ever seeing her. After surgery, the mother – completely overcome with emotion – couldn’t take her eyes off her daughter’s face. A photo opportunity also brings back memories for Hudson. “Several years ago I snapped a picture outside of the Hospital de la Amistad,” she says. “It’s of a little boy leading his blind grandmother in with a stick. It takes two people to care for one blind person. When sight is restored, it frees up not only the blind person, but loved ones are able to become productive members of society again.” There was also the time that a missionary named Malory brought some people down from the town of Tlamacazapa, Mexico. “Malory decided to stop at the beach on the way home because they had never seen the ocean,” recounts Hudson. “Malory sent me a photo of one of the patients, Catalina, looking at the ocean. She was so happy she could see the water and she kept exclaiming, ‘Aren’t you afraid of the waves?’ Catalina was overwhelmed by the massive body of water that seemed to never end. Two days earlier she wouldn’t have been 42
FA L L 2 013
A World Cataract Foundation patient was overwhelmed by ocean waves she had never been able to see before her cataract surgery.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS