Estate Gift Will Help West Baltimore Residents Keep Sight

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- In one of the areas of the city with the most need, a gift will help people to keep their eyesight.

Mike Schuh has more.

Part of west Baltimore has problems; the economic ones have led to stubborn chronic health problems.

"West Baltimore unfortunately has some of the most significant health disparities, particularly because we serve a minority, primarily African-American community---heart disease, diabetes cancer. Unfortunately, we have the highest rates in the city and in the state," said Bon Secours CEO Dr. Samuel Ross.

In fact, there isn't an eye doctor in the zip code---no one to do the regular checks needed by diabetics.

That's where Bon Secours Hospital comes in. Many of its patients are delivered to the emergency room or they come in a squad car. But now a check will bring a new source of real patients.

A quarter-million dollars from an estate to open an eye clinic in a nearby church currently being renovated into a clinic.

"Well, $250,000 is the largest donation we've ever received," Ross said.

Delegate Keith Haynes is with the law from working for the estate. He says the donors once had eye problems and this is the best use of their money.

"This facility that provides access to medical care, because it is an anchor to the community and so we have to strengthen it so that the community and everyone benefits from this gift," Haynes said.

The hospital has bought a nearby church and is renovating it for a clinic. It won't be ready until fall but because the need is so acute, they're buying the equipment now and training people so they can begin the screenings in west Baltimore.

The local couple that provided the money were working class. The husband worked at Morgan State University. The gift represented their life savings.