Dear Lions and Supporters of Mid-South, I would like to introduce you all to  Marissa Davis.  Marissa was brought to Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Service  by the Picayune, Mississippi Lions Club in hopes that we would be able to help her.  When Marissa was 3 years old she was attacked by the family dog.  The attack, as you can see, left her permanently blind in the left eye, scarred across the forehead and underneath the chin and neck.  There was also significant damage to her upper lip.

Marissa lives with her grandmother.  Her parents are not together and sadly, assume no responsibility for her.  Nonetheless, Marissa is a vivacious and happy little girl.  PCC Dr. Jim Schrock, the Lion who interviewed her, told us that she was a typical 10 year old who handled herself well during their conversation.
                           
At the time she was first brought to Mid-South Marissa was in the 4th grade at Nicholson Elementary School in Nicholoson, Mississippi.  She has dyslexia, but according to her teacher is making satisfactory progress.  Dr. Schrock told us that many of the staff in Marissa’s school were very interested in her receiving help before psychological problems develop.  After all, this little girl is on the brink of her teenage years - a time when young girls can be particularly cruel and hateful to one another.  He told us the school had appealed to a few other organizations for help, but thus far nothing had come of it.

Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Service was happy to do all that we could to assist Marissa.  We consulted with Dr. Chris Fleming at the University of Tennessee Department of Ophthalmology and Hamilton Eye Institute about her case.  Dr. Fleming specializes in plastic surgery of the eye surrounding area.  Dr. Fleming was excited to work with us on this case and felt that he could help Marissa very much.  That was good news for Mid-South, good news for Lions everywhere, and especially good news for Marissa - who, during her interview with Dr. Schrock replied to his question of what she wants to be when she grows up, by simply saying, “I just want to be pretty.”