#MomCrush Monday: Meet Dr. Maria Montero, Ophthalmologist and Surgeon for Orbis’ Flying Eye Hospital

1.) You’re a busy mother, ophthalmologist and surgeon for Orbis’ Flying Eye Hospital.  You’re incredible! How do you manage all of this so successfully?

As a busy working mom, I couldn’t do it without help. I am lucky that I have a village supporting me and my daughter, including her preschool and my family. My parents, my sister, and my boyfriend are incredibly helpful and fill in the childcare gaps when I have to work or preschool is closed.

When I’m traveling with the Flying Eye Hospital for a training program, it’s “easier” without my daughter because I can focus more on work, but my heart is always with her. On the days I am without her, I speak affirmations over and over to  myself keeping in mind that my work demonstrates the incredible things women can do and that I work hard so she knows that everything I do is for her.

2.) You are so passionate about helping others that it took you to a place where you fly around the world training eye care professionals where access to education is limited.  What inspired you to give back in such an incredible way? 

When I found Orbis, I finally understood what this saying meant: “Do what you love and you will never work again.” After my daughter was born, I became her provider, and of course, her role model, so I really aim to inspire her and other little girls to chase their dreams. “Aspire to inspire” and “You cannot be what you cannot see” are two phrases that are always on my mind whenever I struggle being away from my daughter. I truly want her to know for a fact that she can be whoever she wants to be – and that could mean wearing multiple hats, like her mom. I believe the sky is not the limit anymore.

3.) You’re also passionate about empowering other mothers to see how they can actually find their strength in motherhood in their work. What are three tips you can share with our readers about how they can in fact, find their very own strength in motherhood?

• Remind yourself there is no such thing as a perfect parent, but only you are the perfect parent for your child 
  • Both my job and motherhood have given me more empathy – for both others and also for myself. On the challenging days, I remember both my daughter and I are doing the best we can and that tomorrow will be a new day. This goes for you too! Also, I remind myself instincts as a mother are usually exactly what my daughter needs and I’ve learned to trust that above all the noise. No matter what Instagram or society tells me about how I should be a mother, I’ve learned to trust my gut and to strive for authenticity over perfection. 

• Keep in mind how your actions appear to your kiddo 
  • Working a job or managing a home? Your kid sees more than you think and it’s impacting them. Even though she is little, my daughter already knows that I work both online and in-person. I want her to see what a healthy work environment looks like and also meet some very strong, hard-working men and women. Take a step back realizing that while there may be 10 things you’d have done differently over the course of the day, your child still thinks you’re a superhero. 

• Constantly connect with other mothers and find strength in community
  • As mothers we are strengthened by one another. Sleepless nights? Critical emails that come in just as your toddler has emptied a bag of flour on the floor? There is someone right there with you, trudging through the hard moments, learning to extend grace to both ourselves and our children. On days that feel heavy, try not to give into the temptation to stuff those feelings inward. Take a walk with a mom friend or if that isn’t in the cards – text or call them. We can be strong for each other and find the inspiration to keep going for our families.  

4.) Given your expertise, might you be able to share some tips about eye health for kiddos along with the importance of getting vision checks early?

Keeping the staggering statistics in mind will surely inspire parents to make this a priority.

Nearly 1 billion people across the globe live with completely avoidable vision loss. For too many children around the world, lack of access to eye care affects not only their day-to-day learning, but also their ability to succeed in the future. Because many schools are ill-equipped to support students with impaired vision, children struggling with their sight are often asked to leave school, denying them an education and damaging their future prospects.

The number one thing parents can do is get vision checks early and also maintain routine checks 

• Just as babies need their hearing tested when they are born, they also need their vision checked. Make an appointment with your ophthalmologist to have your baby’s eyes checked – not only their eye movement and sight, but also their retina and optic nerve. If there is an issue with your child’s eyes and it does not get addressed before they turn six years old, the condition may be irreversible.Their brain may not be able to learn how to read images properly because their eyes haven’t been exposed to the proper stimuli. 
• Many people think an eye exam is only for getting a pair of glasses, but it’s about that and so much more, it’s about catching eye conditions early – before they lead to vision loss. It’s about taking care of your eyes so that you don’t miss any of life’s important moments.
• Routine eye screenings are one of the best ways to preserve vision health. Many common eye diseases – including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration – can be significantly slowed with treatment, but only if they are caught in time. Once these conditions have resulted in a loss of vision, it is irreversible.
• It is increasingly critical to get in the habit of going for routine eye exams. As people live longer lives, as the population grows and as lifestyle changes cause an uptick in diseases like diabetes, there is a growing number of people with sight-threatening conditions who need eye care.

5.) What is your favorite song lyric? Why?

 “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies –I have always liked oldies, and when I was pregnant with my daughter this song just made me dance and hold my belly and tell her that we would be the best team ever.

Honey

Oh, sugar, sugar

You are my candy girl

And you got me wanting you

I just can’t believe

The loveliness of loving you

I just can’t believe it’s true

I just can’t believe

The wonder of this feeling, too

I just can’t believe it’s true