Report of 9 Oct 2012
Good evening from Chennai!
I did not blog last week, though I'd spent some fine times at the Carmel and St. V libraries. A bit of exhaustion with packing and moving had set in.
Some fine times before we left - Sid Norton and I had lunch during the week, and caught up with his work and home, that was fun. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes and I had dinner, talking of her recent marriage and her parents, also fun. We stopped by the Sparzos, where Scott and John were discussing Lean, and said a quick bye; the Sparzo welcome is always warm and gracious. I handed a gift to Dee, my remarkable 5 AM cardio-kickboxing instructor, and we shared hugs (sweaty though they were) and tears and laughter. Dr. Angela Carbone, head of the stroke unit where I worked at RHI, took her team out for lunch on Friday and that was great; it is always cool to socialise with the folks I work with and Dr. Carbone makes sure everyone feels included and welcome. I had plenty of exit interviews and farewell hugs - warm, loving, affectionate. RHI was a great place to work.
Scott and I drove to IU on Saturday, in foliage country and that was gorgeous; we had lunch at the Snow Lion, owned by the nephew of the Dalai Lama, solely to support someone from Tibet. The food was so-so, and the cause much greater. We then stopped to see Scott's grandfather, recovering from having a pacemaker put in, and saw some extended family there; that was grand. I like Scott's grandfather a lot, he is non-complaining, stoic and fun; he does not hear very well, but does not let that faze him at all. One of my best memories is of him coming out with his armed forces photo album the first time we met, and Scott and his siblings had not seen those pics at all. The photos were great, of course, handsome men in uniform and reminding us of a time gone by.
On Sunday, we had a fine breakfast at a trendy little restaurant and then saw "Won't back down," which was surprisingly good for being a feel-good flick. We then moved out of our apartment and drove down to see Navin; he had granted us an audience, which was lovely. We had dinner at Taco Bell, a Mecca for those college students, and then saw "Pitch Perfect," which was excellent. I hunkered down for an evening of chatting with the boy, and he said, "Well, good to see you guys," which meant the evening was over and he had to return to homework :). We headed to the Tabers', our home away from home, and spent a comfortable night.
On Monday, we went to Community South Hospital and caught up with former colleagues Nancy, Jolynn, Elaine, Louann, Tammy and Staci, and it was very nice to see everyone. I also stopped in to see Jasmine, who had sent us the giant box of raisins and other goodies: I had a gift from the Banyan for her, which she was loath to accept but did. The Banyan remembers Jasmine's magnificent gesure well. Scott and I then met Ed Stone, my former boss, and Bryan Benedict, a fine ER doc, for lunch. As I told Scott, to be in the presence of 3 great minds was a treat for me. Ed took me to meet Dr. Mulvey, another ER doc, and that was nice. Scott and I then went to the dollar cinema, saw "The Avengers" again and then walked out of a terrible movie called "Light of Day." "Sparkle" did not play due to projector problems, so we spent time at the Carmel lib.
On Tuesday, I went to Grand Rounds and then stopped to talk to Dr. Love, which is always, always very therapeutic for me. I also said bye to Willette, Rebecca and Tami, and then Scott and I got some medical work done. We went to see "Looper," which was good. Then we met Colleen and Mark Taber for dinner, and that was the fun fest it always is. It's nice to gab with intelligent folks, and then return to their warm, loving home. On Tuesday night, I packed a little. Wednesday was spent at Carmel lib and that was lovely; we also saw Kris Rea briefly when we returned her dishes and that was a nice bonus. On Thursday, we flew out of Indy. Scott and I had seats together all the way to India (this cannot be taken for granted these days) and that was fun; when I was not annoying Scott (who is slow to be annoyed, thank Heavens), we were watching movies or sleeping. Service was excellent on the flights - quel treat - and then we reached Chennai, with our luggage (speaking of bonus), and were being hugged by our son.
We celebrated my nephew's graduation from Dental School and it was cool to see extended family. I talked to my Dad and confirmed plans to meet later this week (I will head to Madurai). Work resumed for me yesterday at Kovalam, and I was seeing patients who take 3 buses to come and see us, and I treated folks whose next meal is never a certainty. It is heady to do this, because these patients appear to heal with just a kind word, even before I lay the stethoscope on them. Today, I was at Adaikalam, passing out chocolate (gifted by colleagues in the U.S. as well as bought by us) to everyone and sharing the gift from an Indianapolis patient's wife with all the health care workers. I got slapped by a patient today; her mental illness is out of control and she had no clear idea of her actions, though her motive was clear. I saw the slap coming and mostly deflected it, otherwise it would have hurt; my colleagues were aghast and embarrassed and apologetic. I told them there was absolutely no need to apologise, as *they* did not hit me. My time with the Banyan has lasted 8 years and is likely to last a lot longer; I can now convicingly say, "Our patients can hit when agitated."
It is good to be home. It is good to take care of patients who are mentally ill and unfortunately, are separated from their families sometimes never to see them again, try though we might to reunite them. As I whinge and carry on to Scott, as we share a dosai at b'fast, as we listen to our older son's plans and make plans to Skype with our younger son, I think of the tremendous good fortune I have - that I can see family, and take care of those whom I am privileged to. My faith has been rocked, as many know, but it is when I see the impoverished and work in a non-competitive environment (not many want to work with the destitute - their loss; those that do want to, make great colleagues for me) and touch "the untouchable," that I truly feel the presence of someone who picked me up from med school and residency and set me firmly amidst the poor. And I consider this my great good fortune.
Unw -
R
I did not blog last week, though I'd spent some fine times at the Carmel and St. V libraries. A bit of exhaustion with packing and moving had set in.
Some fine times before we left - Sid Norton and I had lunch during the week, and caught up with his work and home, that was fun. Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes and I had dinner, talking of her recent marriage and her parents, also fun. We stopped by the Sparzos, where Scott and John were discussing Lean, and said a quick bye; the Sparzo welcome is always warm and gracious. I handed a gift to Dee, my remarkable 5 AM cardio-kickboxing instructor, and we shared hugs (sweaty though they were) and tears and laughter. Dr. Angela Carbone, head of the stroke unit where I worked at RHI, took her team out for lunch on Friday and that was great; it is always cool to socialise with the folks I work with and Dr. Carbone makes sure everyone feels included and welcome. I had plenty of exit interviews and farewell hugs - warm, loving, affectionate. RHI was a great place to work.
Scott and I drove to IU on Saturday, in foliage country and that was gorgeous; we had lunch at the Snow Lion, owned by the nephew of the Dalai Lama, solely to support someone from Tibet. The food was so-so, and the cause much greater. We then stopped to see Scott's grandfather, recovering from having a pacemaker put in, and saw some extended family there; that was grand. I like Scott's grandfather a lot, he is non-complaining, stoic and fun; he does not hear very well, but does not let that faze him at all. One of my best memories is of him coming out with his armed forces photo album the first time we met, and Scott and his siblings had not seen those pics at all. The photos were great, of course, handsome men in uniform and reminding us of a time gone by.
On Sunday, we had a fine breakfast at a trendy little restaurant and then saw "Won't back down," which was surprisingly good for being a feel-good flick. We then moved out of our apartment and drove down to see Navin; he had granted us an audience, which was lovely. We had dinner at Taco Bell, a Mecca for those college students, and then saw "Pitch Perfect," which was excellent. I hunkered down for an evening of chatting with the boy, and he said, "Well, good to see you guys," which meant the evening was over and he had to return to homework :). We headed to the Tabers', our home away from home, and spent a comfortable night.
On Monday, we went to Community South Hospital and caught up with former colleagues Nancy, Jolynn, Elaine, Louann, Tammy and Staci, and it was very nice to see everyone. I also stopped in to see Jasmine, who had sent us the giant box of raisins and other goodies: I had a gift from the Banyan for her, which she was loath to accept but did. The Banyan remembers Jasmine's magnificent gesure well. Scott and I then met Ed Stone, my former boss, and Bryan Benedict, a fine ER doc, for lunch. As I told Scott, to be in the presence of 3 great minds was a treat for me. Ed took me to meet Dr. Mulvey, another ER doc, and that was nice. Scott and I then went to the dollar cinema, saw "The Avengers" again and then walked out of a terrible movie called "Light of Day." "Sparkle" did not play due to projector problems, so we spent time at the Carmel lib.
On Tuesday, I went to Grand Rounds and then stopped to talk to Dr. Love, which is always, always very therapeutic for me. I also said bye to Willette, Rebecca and Tami, and then Scott and I got some medical work done. We went to see "Looper," which was good. Then we met Colleen and Mark Taber for dinner, and that was the fun fest it always is. It's nice to gab with intelligent folks, and then return to their warm, loving home. On Tuesday night, I packed a little. Wednesday was spent at Carmel lib and that was lovely; we also saw Kris Rea briefly when we returned her dishes and that was a nice bonus. On Thursday, we flew out of Indy. Scott and I had seats together all the way to India (this cannot be taken for granted these days) and that was fun; when I was not annoying Scott (who is slow to be annoyed, thank Heavens), we were watching movies or sleeping. Service was excellent on the flights - quel treat - and then we reached Chennai, with our luggage (speaking of bonus), and were being hugged by our son.
We celebrated my nephew's graduation from Dental School and it was cool to see extended family. I talked to my Dad and confirmed plans to meet later this week (I will head to Madurai). Work resumed for me yesterday at Kovalam, and I was seeing patients who take 3 buses to come and see us, and I treated folks whose next meal is never a certainty. It is heady to do this, because these patients appear to heal with just a kind word, even before I lay the stethoscope on them. Today, I was at Adaikalam, passing out chocolate (gifted by colleagues in the U.S. as well as bought by us) to everyone and sharing the gift from an Indianapolis patient's wife with all the health care workers. I got slapped by a patient today; her mental illness is out of control and she had no clear idea of her actions, though her motive was clear. I saw the slap coming and mostly deflected it, otherwise it would have hurt; my colleagues were aghast and embarrassed and apologetic. I told them there was absolutely no need to apologise, as *they* did not hit me. My time with the Banyan has lasted 8 years and is likely to last a lot longer; I can now convicingly say, "Our patients can hit when agitated."
It is good to be home. It is good to take care of patients who are mentally ill and unfortunately, are separated from their families sometimes never to see them again, try though we might to reunite them. As I whinge and carry on to Scott, as we share a dosai at b'fast, as we listen to our older son's plans and make plans to Skype with our younger son, I think of the tremendous good fortune I have - that I can see family, and take care of those whom I am privileged to. My faith has been rocked, as many know, but it is when I see the impoverished and work in a non-competitive environment (not many want to work with the destitute - their loss; those that do want to, make great colleagues for me) and touch "the untouchable," that I truly feel the presence of someone who picked me up from med school and residency and set me firmly amidst the poor. And I consider this my great good fortune.
Unw -
R
posted by Renu Weiss at
6:35 AM
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