Bringing the gift of sight art to Fiji

Kathy and Frank Deggendorfer are known for their generous support of the arts and promoting economic vitality in Sisters. Recently, they expanded their efforts when they took a trip to Fiji with Dr. Devin Gattey to assist with eye surgeries for Fijians who are either completely blind or sight-impaired.

Dr. Gattey is from the Casey Eye Institute of the Oregon Health Sciences University and has been donating his time and skills around the world for many years. Dr. Gattey is a former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who served in Nepal. With an interest in foreign cultures and solving the issue of curable blindness, Dr. Gattey has traveled extensively, teaching cataract surgery to medical professionals in developing countries.

"Dr. Gattey's emphasis on training local health care staff to do these procedures is what really drew me to learn more about it," said Kathy Deggendorfer. "When you teach a local to do something themselves, then the good work will continue after you're gone."

Deggendorfer first met the doctor when her mother went to him for eye surgery. While talking to the doctor, she learned that one of the biggest health issues in the world is curable blindness.

The problem hit home.

"Not being able to paint or read or see my grandchildren would diminish my life so much. The fact that many forms of blindness can be cured so quickly still amazes me. For these people it's only a matter of money and access that separates them from regaining their sight and their lives as productive people."

With very little administrative overhead, Gattey has traveled twice a year throughout the world to do cataract surgeries.

"I asked him if he'd like some help, and he invited Frank and me to join him," said Kathy. "We were so honored to be one of the first non-medical volunteers he'd taken along to help."

Their destination in Fiji was an island called Taveuni. Fiji is an island nation which is located close to New Zealand and Australia. Patients had to often travel for days by ramshackle boat, bus and on foot for their chance to see again.

When people lose their sight in Fiji, they often lose their status in the village and are unable to work.

"We met one 81-year-old farmer named Joe who had been relegated to the back of a mud hut where he had to stay unless someone came to lead him around. He didn't know how to use a cane and his wife was dead and his daughters had moved away," said Kathy.

Found by a volunteer with the Fijian Society of the Blind, Joe traveled for three days for the chance to see again. Joe had the surgery, and the Deggendorfers were there to share his joy when his eye patch was removed and he could see again.

"We all burst into tears! He didn't think anyone could help him. He was able to go back to his village and farm again; he really got his life back," said Kathy

The surgeries in Fiji take place in a hospital funded by local leaders. One expat New Zealander established a Rotary Club. He chose Rotary because the help did not exclude anyone because of religion, tribal affiliation and was not governmentally based. He found that that way everyone felt welcome.

"The islands in Fiji are stunningly beautiful," said Deggendorfer, "but what was most amazing was the heart of the people. It was so revitalizing because the culture is so loving."

Frank Deggendorfer took measurements of people eyes to determine the size of the lens that would be implanted during their surgery.

"There was no room for error and Frank turned out to be exceptionally good at it," said Kathy.

Before she left Sisters, Kathy enlisted the help of local artist Paul Alan Bennett to show her how to teach his popular portrait technique. (She's never one to miss a chance to share her passion for art.)

"One way to celebrate your ability to see is to paint," she said.

In a country with so little, Kathy had to get creative when it came to surfaces to paint on. "We used cardboard from surgical drop-boxes and painted on them."

It didn't take her long to notice a giant blank canvas that needed some color and life.

"The hospital was all concrete, and there was nothing on the walls," she said.

There was a community room and Deggendorfer had the staff paint their portraits to hang on the walls.

She worked with patients who hadn't been able to see for years. One young man in particular with serious vision loss caught her attention, at first because he was so grumpy. But once he got his sight back his whole countenance changed and his depression lifted. The other patients kept telling Deggendorfer to give him a paint brush, and when she did it turned out he was an amazing artist.

Deggendorfer gave him many of her paints, and he was overwhelmed.

"He kept telling me that what I was giving him was so valuable, and did I realize how much it would cost for him to purchase the painting materials."

By the time they left, the entire hospital was decorated with artwork from patients and staff alike. The gray walls were transformed into brightly colored images of people's faces, flowers and landscapes.

"I'd really like to go back and see how everyone is doing," Kathy said.

Deggendorfer would like to do an art project there similar to the Americana Project art classes, and leave them the supplies.

Deggendorfer saw some parallels to Sisters during her time in Fiji.

"The people have a strong sense of community, and when there's a leader they do so much to make their community a better place to live. That's what the Rotary Club did for them."

After her life-changing experience, Deggendorfer would love to see Oregon youth get involved and experience the rewarding aspects of serving others.

"Once they see what they can do to help and how quickly they can affect change, it can spark their sense of service and get them focused on what they can do for world good."