Saturday January 21st
2017 -
I had a wonderful 9 hours of sleep & woke up feeling
nearly 100% & good to go. I was starving & went & had a hard boiled
egg & toast for breakfast. I stood for the bus ride & it seemed less
bumpy….I know I mentioned the driving here the first few days but truly it
feels like you take your life in your hands when you are in a car here. Lane
lines are only suggestions, police let people drive however they want even the
wrong way on the road & only intervene if there is an accident. The weaving
around truck, buses, cars, bikes etc is quite the maneuvering and obstacle
course. I am fairly confident that anyone who visits here would have to hire a
driver – driving here is like a crash course with nonstop honking. The dirt
road to the hotel fits one car max & our bus barely if any other vehicle is
on the road it becomes a standoff as to who will go in reverse.
At the morning Team mtg Valentina (who is all of 23 &
the PC for this mission) reminded us to think of the determination of all of
these families to get here, to get to us for the help they needed, for their
trust in us – complete strangers and when we are feeling tired to think of our
own passion & motivation to be here – she is wise beyond her years. I was
named “Queen of the Day” if that is because I got sick & then still came in
the next day I would happily forego the recognition if it meant no being
sick!!! We also got the good news that we have done ALL Of THE PALATES…only
lips, hemangiomas & other types of surgeries from now thru tomorrow – YAY!!!
Also Sharon the PACU nurse from UK finally got her luggage last night – she was
so tremendously positive thru all of that – I don’t think I would have been
able to manage & it reminded to pack more useful items in my carry on in case
that ever happened to me. With her luggage arriving it was like Christmas – she
had decorations for the PACU, treats & toys for the kids.
One table today was a local anesthesia table so those
patients were coming off fast – we did have 6 that were canceled because the
children were sick & clearly they won’t be better by tomorrow so that is
always disappointing. They did add on 3 others so I am sure those people are
very happy!
Today I gave away my final clothes, dolls, hats, etc. Moni
Jana was my 10 year old patient who got the last doll & t-shirt. So places
in India there are 30 kids walking around with CHOC T-Shirts and many with new
dolls to love or clothes to wear thanks to the generosity of others -I have the
best friends ever!!! Pradeep wanted to be sure I was okay & eating (which I
was) but from a “doctors canteen” somewhere he brought me toast…who knew they
even had that here???
Here they call the nurses “sister” like they do in Africa –
it is kind of funny to be walking & hear someone trying to get your
attention& say “Sister, Sister” but it is also a tender reminder that we
truly are all brothers & sisters & how grateful I am to be here helping
my brothers & sisters in India. One of my patients today – the mom was a
nurse & I was curious why as a medical person she had not gotten her son
surgery before now. She said she is a single mom, her husband left when her son
was born, she pays a friend to watch him when she works 5 days a week. While there
is a center in Kolkata that would assist in the surgery but by the time she
traveled there, missed work & then returned it would be extremely costly –
their needs are work, food, shelter even as a trained nurse – again very
humbling to get a tiny glimpse of their lives here. I told her I wanted her
& her son to do something special
together or get something they needed & gave her some rupee – she at first
declined & the later accepted the longer we spoke & as I explained that
there are good people all over the world & especially where I live who want
to help others n matter who they are & they would want to help her. She was
also talking to me about the weather & that there is a monsoon season from
May-July with lots of mud and rain. I thought of the village near our hotel and
what a good rain would do to their lean to houses and dirt road….
There was glimmer of sunlight when we left tonight which was
so nice. Before I came here I had put the global clock for Kolkata on my phone
& was perplexed at why it always said (usually at night) hazy, smoky, foggy
in the description. Now it makes perfect sense because that is exactly what it
is – the air is awful here for so many reasons. I can’t imagine how someone
with asthma or airway problems would maange here. In the afternoon my roommate Mayra
got sick & threw up once – I was hoping it wasn’t because of me!!! Several
people have headcolds & many are on antibiotics. They sent Mayra home to
rest which I know is exactly what she needed. When I got home she was resting,
I made her some tea, got her some sprite & repaid to her the kindness she
had shown to me. Fortunately she only got sick the one time. I went to dinner
but want up for spicy curry so I opted for crackers & was quite content.
Karen, Sharon & I (the 3 international PACU nurses) visited
out on the patio for awhile laughing about all the events that have taken place
this week: some of the interesting physician personalities from India, the
challenges that are common on missions and some humorous moments we have had –
they have been so wonderful and easy to work with – energetic, competent, team
players, compassionate and all around great women & nurses. I hope our
paths will cross again sometime J
I got an email from Pres. Sujal the branch Pres. For the
area that covers Kolkata – I think we are good to meet on Monday – fingers crossed
& prayers that will work out! Time for bed – Good night from India.
No comments:
Post a Comment