long time, no write
hello again -
sorry I haven't written anything in so long - I was going to write something after posting all of those pictures, but I had bronchitis and was too tired by that time.
We were sent to Panvel instead of Virar for the rural rotation - I had a cold the whole time I was there, but managed to make clinic every day with the help of cold medicine. We lived in a leper colony - Shantivan - in the middle of nowhere. Tons of mosquitoes, mosquito net was absolutely necessary. Toilet was not so nice. Shower consisted of cold water coming out of a faucet in the wall about waist-high and a bucket. Food wasn't so good and it was served on these giant Thali platters with huge portions and the staff got upset if ou didn't finish it all - I tried to communicate that they should give me less, but no one knew English.
Shantivan had male and female outpatient clinics - we went around to each female patient's cot, talked to them, examined their lesions and hands and feet. At one point, I sat alone with a woman in the corner who was missing all of her fingers and all of her toes and about half of her feet. She proceeded to rub her deformed hands all over my head and back and arms, while I grinned and put my arm around her despite feeling slightly uneasy. I know A LOT about leprosy now so if anyone is interested to learn more, I can fill you in when I get back. This patient would not have lost her toes and fingers if she had been compliant with her treatment - She should have taken the medication and done certain exercises and massages and worn special shoes, but instead she ignored all of that advice and worked in the field all day barefoot and came in and out of the outpatient department when the ulcers on her feet became unbearable.
Another female leprosy patient there was from the highest class and had been a very rich and important woman before her diagnosis with leprosy - her family dumped her off at the leper colony and never contacted her again. She didn't do the exercises and massages for her hands, so they are badly deformed - "claw-hand" - she can't even use them. She was very sweet and seemed a little sad and lonely. Everyone in the clinic appreciated the attention we gave them.
After the outpatient clinic, the doctor (?) took us to the old folk's homes which are on the leper colony, but have nothing to do with leprosy - they are more for community outreach. First, we had chai in the home where the residents are still independent, which was relaxing and we had some nice conversation, then we went next door where the dependents lived. There were many more of them and they were all sitting ou together for entertainment time. One of the women sang a beautiful Indian song, then us four girls stepped up to the mic and sang "Amazing Grace" - ha ha ha - they really got a kick out of it. There was one patient in the home who was not old, he was around 30 or so. He is the thinnest person I have ever seen - no fat, no muscle, just skin over bones. He laid curled up in the bed only able to move his skinny arms. He had been in a terrible accident at the age of 18. Before he was injured he was a talented artist - 2 of his pencil drawings were hung by the office - one was a portrait of Gandhi and the other was of a freedom fighter named Bharat something - both were amazingly well-done and detailed and realistic. The caregivers mentioned that this patient has limitless optimism. He was very sweet.
Shantivan is a working farm and factory which employs lepers exclusively - they raise Swiss cows for the dairy and Indian cows, grow rice and veggies, and hand-weave high-quality cotton rugs. They also have students come there for educational purposes on a regular basis. And they run a natural health clinic.
After visiting the old folk's homes, we went to prayer. The man who we're not sure whether he is a doctor or not sat at the front, legs crossed, eyes closed. We sat to the side in front. And the people who live on Shantivan sat segregated by sex. First, we listened to the news on the radio, then a few men took turns singing songs and mantras. The kids smiled at us a lot and little frogs hopped around on the floor. One of the children sang a song entirely in English for us and it was very good and cute.
The next morning was Independence Day in India, so everyone gathered in their best clothes at 7:30am around the flag pole, again seperated by sex. A few men (community leaders?) led the salute to the flag and one man led the singing of the national athem, another gave a heartfelt speech. One of the men marched back and forth in a very serious way in front of everyone and all of us students had to hold back laughter or even a smile at the risk of seriously offending everyone. You had to be there. Then a few men passed around dates and candy to everyone and that was it - Independence Day celebrations were over. It's also interesting to note that Independence Day is a "dry" day in India. And the clinics and hospitals were running as usual on this day even though the doctors seemed to take every other holiday off.
The next day was Krishna's birthday - much more racious. All the young men in each community wear orange and form human pyramids to reach something pinata-like way high up that's filled with something - milk? money? candy? Not sure really. The young men play loud music and all dance together and generally have a really fun, energetidc time together. The women stand across the street huddled together and watch or they stay home. We watched one community where the thing was on top of a really high pole and one older man climbed it alone to reach the thing. The younger guys tried a few times and failed to do the pyramid thing and we watched one boy fall from really high all the way to the ground and jump up smiling - I thought he was giong to die, but he is lucky he didn't land on his head. Turns out in the news the next day that 60 people were injured and 3 people died in the festivites, which is normal on this holiday each year.
Another holiday which a lot of doctors took off was a day when all the sisters tie a bracelet on their brothers and their brothers give them a small gift or amount of money. I can explain the history of this if you're interested in person.
So much more to write about, but getting tired of hanging out in the internet cafe now, so more tomorrow - today was my last day at the hospital, the other students leave tonight and tomorrow night, then Josh gets here Sunday night - I can't wait to see him! I've really missed him.
tata!
sorry I haven't written anything in so long - I was going to write something after posting all of those pictures, but I had bronchitis and was too tired by that time.
We were sent to Panvel instead of Virar for the rural rotation - I had a cold the whole time I was there, but managed to make clinic every day with the help of cold medicine. We lived in a leper colony - Shantivan - in the middle of nowhere. Tons of mosquitoes, mosquito net was absolutely necessary. Toilet was not so nice. Shower consisted of cold water coming out of a faucet in the wall about waist-high and a bucket. Food wasn't so good and it was served on these giant Thali platters with huge portions and the staff got upset if ou didn't finish it all - I tried to communicate that they should give me less, but no one knew English.
Shantivan had male and female outpatient clinics - we went around to each female patient's cot, talked to them, examined their lesions and hands and feet. At one point, I sat alone with a woman in the corner who was missing all of her fingers and all of her toes and about half of her feet. She proceeded to rub her deformed hands all over my head and back and arms, while I grinned and put my arm around her despite feeling slightly uneasy. I know A LOT about leprosy now so if anyone is interested to learn more, I can fill you in when I get back. This patient would not have lost her toes and fingers if she had been compliant with her treatment - She should have taken the medication and done certain exercises and massages and worn special shoes, but instead she ignored all of that advice and worked in the field all day barefoot and came in and out of the outpatient department when the ulcers on her feet became unbearable.
Another female leprosy patient there was from the highest class and had been a very rich and important woman before her diagnosis with leprosy - her family dumped her off at the leper colony and never contacted her again. She didn't do the exercises and massages for her hands, so they are badly deformed - "claw-hand" - she can't even use them. She was very sweet and seemed a little sad and lonely. Everyone in the clinic appreciated the attention we gave them.
After the outpatient clinic, the doctor (?) took us to the old folk's homes which are on the leper colony, but have nothing to do with leprosy - they are more for community outreach. First, we had chai in the home where the residents are still independent, which was relaxing and we had some nice conversation, then we went next door where the dependents lived. There were many more of them and they were all sitting ou together for entertainment time. One of the women sang a beautiful Indian song, then us four girls stepped up to the mic and sang "Amazing Grace" - ha ha ha - they really got a kick out of it. There was one patient in the home who was not old, he was around 30 or so. He is the thinnest person I have ever seen - no fat, no muscle, just skin over bones. He laid curled up in the bed only able to move his skinny arms. He had been in a terrible accident at the age of 18. Before he was injured he was a talented artist - 2 of his pencil drawings were hung by the office - one was a portrait of Gandhi and the other was of a freedom fighter named Bharat something - both were amazingly well-done and detailed and realistic. The caregivers mentioned that this patient has limitless optimism. He was very sweet.
Shantivan is a working farm and factory which employs lepers exclusively - they raise Swiss cows for the dairy and Indian cows, grow rice and veggies, and hand-weave high-quality cotton rugs. They also have students come there for educational purposes on a regular basis. And they run a natural health clinic.
After visiting the old folk's homes, we went to prayer. The man who we're not sure whether he is a doctor or not sat at the front, legs crossed, eyes closed. We sat to the side in front. And the people who live on Shantivan sat segregated by sex. First, we listened to the news on the radio, then a few men took turns singing songs and mantras. The kids smiled at us a lot and little frogs hopped around on the floor. One of the children sang a song entirely in English for us and it was very good and cute.
The next morning was Independence Day in India, so everyone gathered in their best clothes at 7:30am around the flag pole, again seperated by sex. A few men (community leaders?) led the salute to the flag and one man led the singing of the national athem, another gave a heartfelt speech. One of the men marched back and forth in a very serious way in front of everyone and all of us students had to hold back laughter or even a smile at the risk of seriously offending everyone. You had to be there. Then a few men passed around dates and candy to everyone and that was it - Independence Day celebrations were over. It's also interesting to note that Independence Day is a "dry" day in India. And the clinics and hospitals were running as usual on this day even though the doctors seemed to take every other holiday off.
The next day was Krishna's birthday - much more racious. All the young men in each community wear orange and form human pyramids to reach something pinata-like way high up that's filled with something - milk? money? candy? Not sure really. The young men play loud music and all dance together and generally have a really fun, energetidc time together. The women stand across the street huddled together and watch or they stay home. We watched one community where the thing was on top of a really high pole and one older man climbed it alone to reach the thing. The younger guys tried a few times and failed to do the pyramid thing and we watched one boy fall from really high all the way to the ground and jump up smiling - I thought he was giong to die, but he is lucky he didn't land on his head. Turns out in the news the next day that 60 people were injured and 3 people died in the festivites, which is normal on this holiday each year.
Another holiday which a lot of doctors took off was a day when all the sisters tie a bracelet on their brothers and their brothers give them a small gift or amount of money. I can explain the history of this if you're interested in person.
So much more to write about, but getting tired of hanging out in the internet cafe now, so more tomorrow - today was my last day at the hospital, the other students leave tonight and tomorrow night, then Josh gets here Sunday night - I can't wait to see him! I've really missed him.
tata!
posted by mavis | 6:17 PM
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