Report of 24 Dec 2013
Good morning and merry Christmas Eve!
Hope all of you are well. We are relieved to inform that our sons are here safely, to celebrate Christmas with us and spend some time in Chennai. When I know what can happen in air travel, I am doubly grateful when I see the whites of the boys' eyes. My Dad is with us, and the boys are solicitous. My Dad is getting a kick out of hearing accents that are re-Americanized.
3 med students from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are working with us. Their trip has been a tad suspenseful so far - missed connections, delayed flights, among other things - but they are rolling with everything. They are happy and tolerant folks. Their presence is enjoyed by all at the Banyan, and the patients love the compassion and joy that these visiting students bring. We are privileged to have students from my alma mater annually.
Work has been good: the students are currently performing thorough physical exams on all our residents. The students are active and efficient. This is the residents' annual exam, and I welcome the help to check our patients. We have discovered breast tenderness and possible thyroid abnormalities, and other ills. The students have also accompanied me in Kovalam. A notable patient there was a young single parent presenting with chest pain; she is impoverished, as most of our patients are. As I probed, she told me that she lived near a sewer and the smell was overpowering. I think this lady should see a cardiologist (that's the American CYA approach), but I suppose intense foul odors can even cause chest pain, among other physical symptoms.
How fortunate are we, eh, that we do not have such issues and such residences.
Family Day happened at the Banyan. Several of you donated cash, and we were able to pay for far-flung families of our staff to travel and join us for a half-day of enjoyment. Several volunteers, including the 3 Weiss men, ran carnival games; a celebrity chef donated biryani for all (500 people!!!); a very good restaurant donated pastries; and a fine time was had by all. The students helped do medical checkups for the visitors (who might not have good access to care) and there was a variety entertainment program. Scott danced with me to a song by A. R. Rahman, Chennai's wonderful and humble Oscar-winning music composer. Scott does not enjoy dancing, and it truly was a labor of love. We roped my father in to share a dance step or 2, and he gamely shook a leg, thoroughly enjoying himself: dancing is so in our blood. The students also danced to a Bollywood number, sharing their joy and rocking the crowd; they were lovely additions to the program.
We are privileged in whom we meet, and whom we get to influence. patients, staff, families, visiting students. What a joyous life.
Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2014 to all of you!
Unw -
R
Hope all of you are well. We are relieved to inform that our sons are here safely, to celebrate Christmas with us and spend some time in Chennai. When I know what can happen in air travel, I am doubly grateful when I see the whites of the boys' eyes. My Dad is with us, and the boys are solicitous. My Dad is getting a kick out of hearing accents that are re-Americanized.
3 med students from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are working with us. Their trip has been a tad suspenseful so far - missed connections, delayed flights, among other things - but they are rolling with everything. They are happy and tolerant folks. Their presence is enjoyed by all at the Banyan, and the patients love the compassion and joy that these visiting students bring. We are privileged to have students from my alma mater annually.
Work has been good: the students are currently performing thorough physical exams on all our residents. The students are active and efficient. This is the residents' annual exam, and I welcome the help to check our patients. We have discovered breast tenderness and possible thyroid abnormalities, and other ills. The students have also accompanied me in Kovalam. A notable patient there was a young single parent presenting with chest pain; she is impoverished, as most of our patients are. As I probed, she told me that she lived near a sewer and the smell was overpowering. I think this lady should see a cardiologist (that's the American CYA approach), but I suppose intense foul odors can even cause chest pain, among other physical symptoms.
How fortunate are we, eh, that we do not have such issues and such residences.
Family Day happened at the Banyan. Several of you donated cash, and we were able to pay for far-flung families of our staff to travel and join us for a half-day of enjoyment. Several volunteers, including the 3 Weiss men, ran carnival games; a celebrity chef donated biryani for all (500 people!!!); a very good restaurant donated pastries; and a fine time was had by all. The students helped do medical checkups for the visitors (who might not have good access to care) and there was a variety entertainment program. Scott danced with me to a song by A. R. Rahman, Chennai's wonderful and humble Oscar-winning music composer. Scott does not enjoy dancing, and it truly was a labor of love. We roped my father in to share a dance step or 2, and he gamely shook a leg, thoroughly enjoying himself: dancing is so in our blood. The students also danced to a Bollywood number, sharing their joy and rocking the crowd; they were lovely additions to the program.
We are privileged in whom we meet, and whom we get to influence. patients, staff, families, visiting students. What a joyous life.
Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2014 to all of you!
Unw -
R
posted by Renu Weiss at
7:07 PM
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