Report of 27 Sept '10
Hello folks -
A busy weekend ends, a hectic week starts.
We are well, and hope the same with you. The Banyan has been great. I wish to extend an apology to you: when I mentioned the patient, Ms. S, dying last week, I went on to discuss the repercussions of her death. At no point did I voice sadness at her passing, and I am sorry. I was indeed sad at her passing, as I am sad at all deaths at the B. However, I am happy that Vandana and Vaishnavi founded the B, so that we could give a home to Ms. S and she could die surrounded by love and caring, instead of on the streets - alone and unkempt and in pain and miserable.
We have a patient rescued recently from the streets: Ms. Se has had some nausea and vomiting, and is also found to have leptospirosis. She was treated, and got better, and has been scrubbing the sick room spotless. Many of these women are used to running families, and so, cleaning and cooking and caring for someone else is second nature. Ms. Se is young, very attractive and was found semi-naked on the streets. She is HIV+, and is under follow-up for the same. One day, I asked what she had eaten for breakfast - the reply clues me in to all manner of conditions: dementia, forgetfulness, loss of appetite, state of mind. We (the Banyan) had had dosais, a flat bread made of rice batter. Ms. Se could not quite get the name of it, as she is North Indian and this is a South Indian dish, and I smiled; we met each other's eyes, and Ms. Se had a look of such innocence in her as she sought the name of the dish that the interaction was pure and fun for me. I told the Weiss men that we cannot assume Ms. Se contracted HIV through rape, as she is young enough to enjoy intimacy. Whatever the circumstances, we will treat Ms. Se and work to rehabilitate her.
The B's flat broke state continues. It is like pouring water in a sieve.
The weekend was busy also. Naren was in an intercollegiate play competition, which evaluates plays and the colleges' efforts to sell tickets, and Scott and I went to see the competition over 2 days. MCC had won "Best Play" and "Best Director" last year, and was expected to do well this year. Naren's friend, Ujjwal, a multi-talented and humble young man, wrote the play this year and it was brilliant. Unfortunately, the cast sank it - they were inaudible and did not revel in their roles, and I was furious. I have apologised to Ujjwal and have asked for my money back from Naren. A women's college named Stella Maris stole the show with some stellar marketing, targeting part of their profits towards transcribing textbooks to audiotapes for visually impaired high school students, and an excellent play. You go, girls!
Navin's exam grades came back, given at a Parent-Teacher meeting. As I told him, I have attended P-T meetings for about 14 years now, and if ever I heard, "He's done very well, and has realised his potential," I would faint and need to be resuscitated. It's always, "Can do better." Navin shaved his head yesterday, prayed to his grandmother's spirit and will attempt to apply himself henceforth.
Ahhh, the joys of raising teenagers.
Through all of this, however, I am grateful that the family is together and communicating. So many people do not have such good fortune.
I spoke to my father and he is doing well. He asked that I phone again, which I found very sweet.
Unw -
R
A busy weekend ends, a hectic week starts.
We are well, and hope the same with you. The Banyan has been great. I wish to extend an apology to you: when I mentioned the patient, Ms. S, dying last week, I went on to discuss the repercussions of her death. At no point did I voice sadness at her passing, and I am sorry. I was indeed sad at her passing, as I am sad at all deaths at the B. However, I am happy that Vandana and Vaishnavi founded the B, so that we could give a home to Ms. S and she could die surrounded by love and caring, instead of on the streets - alone and unkempt and in pain and miserable.
We have a patient rescued recently from the streets: Ms. Se has had some nausea and vomiting, and is also found to have leptospirosis. She was treated, and got better, and has been scrubbing the sick room spotless. Many of these women are used to running families, and so, cleaning and cooking and caring for someone else is second nature. Ms. Se is young, very attractive and was found semi-naked on the streets. She is HIV+, and is under follow-up for the same. One day, I asked what she had eaten for breakfast - the reply clues me in to all manner of conditions: dementia, forgetfulness, loss of appetite, state of mind. We (the Banyan) had had dosais, a flat bread made of rice batter. Ms. Se could not quite get the name of it, as she is North Indian and this is a South Indian dish, and I smiled; we met each other's eyes, and Ms. Se had a look of such innocence in her as she sought the name of the dish that the interaction was pure and fun for me. I told the Weiss men that we cannot assume Ms. Se contracted HIV through rape, as she is young enough to enjoy intimacy. Whatever the circumstances, we will treat Ms. Se and work to rehabilitate her.
The B's flat broke state continues. It is like pouring water in a sieve.
The weekend was busy also. Naren was in an intercollegiate play competition, which evaluates plays and the colleges' efforts to sell tickets, and Scott and I went to see the competition over 2 days. MCC had won "Best Play" and "Best Director" last year, and was expected to do well this year. Naren's friend, Ujjwal, a multi-talented and humble young man, wrote the play this year and it was brilliant. Unfortunately, the cast sank it - they were inaudible and did not revel in their roles, and I was furious. I have apologised to Ujjwal and have asked for my money back from Naren. A women's college named Stella Maris stole the show with some stellar marketing, targeting part of their profits towards transcribing textbooks to audiotapes for visually impaired high school students, and an excellent play. You go, girls!
Navin's exam grades came back, given at a Parent-Teacher meeting. As I told him, I have attended P-T meetings for about 14 years now, and if ever I heard, "He's done very well, and has realised his potential," I would faint and need to be resuscitated. It's always, "Can do better." Navin shaved his head yesterday, prayed to his grandmother's spirit and will attempt to apply himself henceforth.
Ahhh, the joys of raising teenagers.
Through all of this, however, I am grateful that the family is together and communicating. So many people do not have such good fortune.
I spoke to my father and he is doing well. He asked that I phone again, which I found very sweet.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu Weiss at
10:55 PM
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