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Mele Kalikimaka

By Pacific Retina Care

-by Tammy

We are celebrating Christmas this year!  We started by making ornaments at the office before clinic, after clinic, during lunch. They are made of gorgeous glitter and Cricut vinyl stickers. So much sparkling fun!

Yesterday I planned to divide us into two teams of five. Team Doctor and Team Tammy. We met at Kahala Mall hoping to select Angel Tree recipients and go shopping together. Good for them, not great for us, they sold out. So we bought gifts to donate. $100 per team. Team Tammy went to Thinker Toys and carefully selected lovely gifts. We purchased only four as they were quite expensive. Team Doctor went to Longs and about bought out the store. I had no idea Longs sold toys! Impressive. 

After shopping we dined at my favorite Roy’s Hawaii Kai. Thanks to the pandemic, we sat with our teammates in two tables of five. It was really lovely. Roy’s was able to seat us near each other in their private dining space for distancing. Outdoor dining was sold out well into March. But it was so very windy that I was happy to dine inside. We bought Pacific Retina Care gifts for all. Rashaun and Chelsea surprised us with personalized Christmas ornaments. What a lovely evening!

Today my goal was to find a place that accepted new toys. Toys for Tots is done for the year. Nobody answered at Ronald McDonald House. I finally thought of IHS (Institute for Human Services). Not only did somebody answer the phone, but this gentleman was so pleasant. My daughter Miranda and I drove all of the gifts to Kalihi. A kind gentleman greeted us. He was so excited for our gifts. He said that there were 27 children there right now! They would wrap the gifts and give them for Christmas. Makes me want to buy more gifts. Imagine 27 homeless children?  It makes me sad. 

We wish you a safe and joyous Holiday Season filled with family, cheer and all that you desire!  Mele Kalikimaka!  Doctor Tafoya, Tammy, Rashaun, Chantelle, Novie, Jack, Amber, Chelsea and Noah

(The first three photos are some of the many gifts given to us by patients.  These were hand painted with delicious homemade goodies inside!          How blessed are we?!!!)