Report of 23 Dec 2018

Good evening!

'Tis the season to share, and Scott and I have gifted each other a virus.  Some folks at a meeting we were at last week did the gifting first, and here we are. 

The Banyan is fine.  We had slightly less than the huge crowd we usually do at Kovalam's clinic last week.  This was okay, as I had a patient of my own at home.  I hastened home to the sick one, and he is on the mend slowly.  We did have to cave in and start him on an antibiotic, which I am usually loath to do, as antibiotic resistance (i.e., a phenomenon where the bacteria causing the illness do not respond to the antibiotic) is a very real entity. 

Fluids and rest are so under-rated in recovery.

A young colleague of mine had been bitten by an insect and developed an allergic reaction; I had to call in meds on the phone.  I saw her a couple of days later, and she had completely healed.  I was happy.  These young women leave their families often as teenagers and come to work with us, providing for their families far away, and often paying to educate younger siblings when they themselves had to stop studying; all this sometimes rips my heart out and the older I get, the younger these young women appear to be.  Daughters, in essence, and I feel privileged to work with and care for them. 

Adaikalam is also fine.  I could only go one of two days this week due to the sick one.  It was still good and I managed to get all the patients seen.  One of them had abdominal pain and it was difficult to sort the story out.  Later, the patient told the caregivers that she had faked the pain as we (at the Banyan) were not sending her home.  Fake or not, we cannot ignore the symptoms.  Thankfully, her ultrasound was normal. 

Private practice is also fun.  I love the village where the clinic is. 

We "hung out" with the boys yesterday and that was nice.  Lots of candor and laughter.  Both planned to spend part of the weekend together, which was good to hear.  They cannot come for Christmas this year and that is wrenching; however, they will be with Scott's cousin, his wife, and family, whom we spent Thanksgiving with.  These are truly loving and kind folks, and we are happy they will host the boys.  My sister-in-law in Bangalore, also a loving and kind person, will host us for Christmas this year and we will drive there tomorrow.   

We attended a Christmas carol service, featuring choirs from across the city, an annual event.  It was lovely.  There is always a sing-along at the end and as I sang along, I noticed that my voice was cartoonishly different, I was almost out of tune.  This morning, the reason emerged - a virus causing a sore throat.  So there have been salt water gargles and plenty of lying in bed.  I miss my swim, but the body sent a clear message to me to not dunk it in freezing water.  Got to listen.

Yesterday, my nephew and his wife joined us for lunch.  They are visiting from Australia and graciously made time for us.  It was grand fun, and we totally appreciate having the younger generation around.  It was nice to chat and eat and laugh, and know of their life in the land down under. 

We hope you get to chat and eat and laugh with your loved ones.  Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2019 to all of you!

Unw -

R  

Report of 16 Dec 2018

Good afternoon!

It is grey and cloudy.  Another cyclone is passing through.  This one is milder than the previous, but is stated to yield some rain.  I was a tad unwell this morning, thus did not swim; this decision was difficult to make, and I mulled over it for a good 20 minutes.  Finally, the malaise was the deciding factor.  Scott has told me not to swim in the rain; it was not raining yet, but I suppose not swimming was for the best.

I started work at a colleague's clinic in a little village near us.  The village is a pretty place and I have mulled over working there.  The clinic is well-equipped and the staff good.  December is a time of flux and my times there will be variable, but it is a sweet place. 

There is a hospital called Global Hospital near our place.  It is a multi-speciality hospital and it would be a dream to work there.  The medical superintendent appears to be a good, dynamic person; she has stated she would let me know and has not, so far.  I have emailed, phoned and gone in person, and am truly loath to make (more of ) a pest of myself.  If you knowledgeable folks have a suggestion for my next step, please let me know. 

The Banyan is nice.  The clinic last week was packed and a tad chaotic; folks coming in out of turn and causing some ruckus.  The concept of a line/queue is somewhat lost in India, and there is occasional bargaining to be seen out of turn at our clinic.  Elsewhere, there are no lines at all, with simply a mobbing of the counter or bus or train.  But things get done. 

I had to pause the clinic to have a meeting, and a couple of the patients left to return later.  They do a mighty catching up at our clinic - many villagers in 1 spot, folks who have not seen each other in some time - and it is a fun time.  Sometimes, there is delay in entering my exam room due to the socialisation, but that is okay - socialisation does promote good health and vigor.

Adaikalam is fine, too.  One of the patients in the Medical Care Unit (MCU) is thoroughly irritated that a couple of her less-favorite residents are also there, and is acting up.  We have collectively decided that the occupancy of the MCU cannot be slanted to favor 1 or 2 individuals and have maintained status quo.  I'll see next week what the results are.  Last week, the irate patient had not eaten or slept well - and both are essential to good health.

We have not "hung out" with the boys this weekend.  Both are busy, and we will catch up next weekend, likely. 

Scott and I had many errands in town and were doing some mad driving.  The hospital that helps us treat our patients when they need hospitalisation, SMF, had its annual oration and we went.  The talk was good and it was nice to see the doctors, who treat our patients with respect and dignity.  I brought home a virus from there, so yesterday was low-key.  We did manage to see "The Shillong Chamber Choir" at a concert last evening.  They are a well-known, popular, talented and good-looking group, and we enjoyed the show immensely.  We ran into good friends there, and that was a double bonus.

May I take this chance to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2019!  May the blessings of the Christ child be with you all through next year.

Unw -

R

Report of 12 Dec 2018

Hello from darkness!

It is 6.43 PM and clearly not Sunday, which was a very busy day.  It is still fun to blog.

The week was good - busy.  Clinics and inpatient work.  And then, before we knew it, the week ended.  Kovalam was packed; several patients came by with an accusing "You were gone for 2 weeks."  I was not, I was away for a week.  This happens when I take off in the time that I am here in India - the patients get upset and I end up perennially having to justify taking off :).  My mother-in-law serves as a perfect excuse - "There was a family function in my mother-in-law's house."  And then, the patients go, "OHH, your mother-in-law's house."  The mother-in-law is queen here.

The lady who is supported by a young man she helped out earlier in his life came to see me.  She stated that she was alone and tired of living.  After the visit with me, I asked one of the social workers to see her and both of them discussed a residential facility she could go to when she felt she would.  It is a charitable institution, I think.  Later in the morning, the patient stopped back in my exam room and thanked me elaborately; I had done little, but I suppose for folks who are alone and apparently hopeless, a few folks taking an interest in them does wonders for their morale.  The Banyan is full of such folks, though, i.e., those who would perennially do for others.

Scott and I toodled about on the weekend, attending a women's market - and frankly, getting tired of the same wares.  Saris, clothing, jewellery, bags, food.  Do these truly distinguish us as women?  That said, I bought some traditional food from a lady and am enjoying it.

The Banyan was given a handsome grant towards our corpus by the Hans Foundation.  We marked the occasion at a local upscale hotel, kindly sponsored by another corporate friend.  It was nice to share the day with those who believe in us - Hans, Grand Challenges Canada, other donors and friends.  The meal was spectacular, Scott and I snarfed it down and headed to the annual pantomime.  It was fun, and featured a few friends of Naren's. 

I am now job-hunting.  My former private practice site - a fun place with fine bosses - is currently devoted to orthopedics and OB/GYN, I am neither.  I do have a house calls practice that I do and - wanting a hospital environment - I have gone to various hospitals.  This process in India is very unique: one has to wait for someone who can "put in a word for you," i.e., urge the authorities to consider you.  All of it is new to me and I am simply taking each day as it comes.  Sometimes, the employers say nothing and then the mystery continues.  But so does work at the Banyan, so it's all good. 

We spoke to both boys and I spoke to my father.  That was nice. 

Unw -

R 

Report of 2 Dec 2018

Good evening!

Jet lag is fierce.  We are hoping the worst is over.  Each night is suspenseful - awaken at 12 AM or 2 AM?  The night I slept through, I felt the accomplishment that a new parent feels when the baby sleeps through the night.  The last couple of nights have been okay and I swam both mornings, feeling a sense of purpose and relief as I put my face in the crystal-clear water and saw the pretty blue tiles. 

The Banyan's 25th anniversary celebrations were on Friday and jet lag played spoilsport again.  We were a few minutes late getting to the venue, but not horribly.  Speeches were on, then a few games were played - hosted by a very pretty TV anchor, energizing the crowd and making the folks laugh.  Gifts were given to those employees who have been with us for a long time.  And then all of us danced, as is our wont.  Dance, dance, dance.  We ate a nice meal, and hung out with each other.  Tea was served and hot samosas bought from a tea shop nearby.  Scott was a volunteer photographer and I was glad he was there: I tend to be a bit overwhelmed by crowds sometimes.  Scott and I have done a personality switch.   

Many of the more functional patients were also present and that was nice.  One of them heads the project in Tiruchi.  She and I are close, we talk often.  Other patients, and patients' children, came, too, and we talked and laughed and ate, and revelled as all of us battled mental illness - some from outside, others from within. 

Scott and I saw a movie called "A private war."  While Rosamund Pike's performance was worthy enough, I have hung around our older son a long time: I thought several scenes were staged explicitly to milk the emotions of the viewing audience.  And thus, I was not moved.  We also saw a classical dance performance by various artistes and I enjoyed the presentation by known names - Gopika Varma and Priyadarshini Govind - very much. 

We "hung out" with the boys and that was fun.  I talked to my Dad, and he is busy enjoying professional activities, which is good.  My aunt called yesterday, it is nice to keep in contact with my mother's side relatives, also.  I think regardless of how old we get, my mother's siblings want to ensure that we are okay, and that is affectionate and soothing.   

Hope your week is good!

Unw -

R