Report of 27 Oct 2020

 The end of life is still a part of life, isn't it.

One of our patients, who had complained incessantly of abdominal pain and recently started losing a lot of weight, had an endoscopy done recently.  It showed a cancer in the esophagus, which has spread to the lungs.  

Vandana and several members of the senior management team have taken the lady out today, to temples.  The patient, Ms. X, is very devout and used to observe several holy days at the B.  I would usually not know the occasion until she told me.  Religious places recently opened up, I think, and I am glad that Ms. X's soul is getting some joy.  I have received copies of pics of this gathering at the temple, and drinking coffee, a favorite beverage of Ms. X.  The pics are nice - simultaneously lovely and sad.

I hope for a pain-free next few days for Ms. X.  She speaks excellent English and is our file-keeper at the B.  She likes sweets and toffees, and unfailingly is appreciative when I give them to her.  It is difficult to not write in the past tense.  

Such is life.  Such is its end, too.  It is good that Ms. X is surrounded by love and joy.  Such is the Banyan.

Unw -

R

Report of 18 October 2020

 Good evening!

My parents' 64th wedding anniversary today.  They stayed married until my mother passed away in 2010.

We are well and hope the same with you.  I was exposed to possible COVID-positive persons last week, so went to our local Primary Health Center to be tested for COVID.  The procedure is that you are notified post-haste of the result if it is positive, and not notified if it is negative.  I'd rather like to be told of the negative result, too.  With enough clout, you can get that message; thus, the Banyan's clout is on the case.

Things are quiet on the Banyan front, as all are trying to manage COVID.  A new doctor has been hired for Kovalam, and that is good.  The Tiruchi project continues to be in touch with me and that has been approved by Vandana.  The person heading the Tiruchi project, Jackulin, is a remarkable person whom I have had the privilege of working with before.  Her clinical skills are excellent and she manages the patients as I would.  

We spoke to both our children on Friday and that was simply lovely.  Lots of chatter and laughter.  Nat said at one point, about a project with 3 male college friends, "I suggested this and the boys are hesitant; women will prevail because women are always right."  I laughed out loud and said it was nice to hear this, after being the lone female voice in the house for decades.  

We got together with my brother, sister-in-law and niece yesterday.  It was the 15th birthday of my niece, Ahana.  It was a nice gathering at Writer's Cafe, and the service was superlative.  Scott forgot Ahana's birthday present at home; I was carrying presents for the other 2 and asked him to grab Ahana's gift bag, and he grabbed some other bag.  So we showed up at the birthday party with no birthday gift.  It bothered me greatly, but Ahana and parents were least fazed by that, and that was a relief.  Scott took the present over later, and I got very nice thank you's from the birthday girl.  

I saw a splendid movie today - "The Trial of the Chicago 7."  If I ever meet Mark Rylance in person, I think that would take my breath away.

Unw -

R

Report of 12 October 2020

 Good evening -

We just watched rain from our balcony and are inside now as the mosquitoes came to feast.

We are well and hope the same with you.  COVID cases are increasing at the Banyan.  Overall, the staff and patients have done a good job with social distancing and mask use.  There was truly no foolproof way to prevent the virus's entry.  So we have it on our premises now and the important thing is to recover from it plus watch for after-effects.  I was at Adaikalam last week and most personnel had face shields and masks on.  Several wards have been converted to isolation wards and PPE is fully evident.  

We have a patient who has refused to eat due to a psychiatric condition and now has a feeding tube in her nose, leading to her stomach.  She was not overweight to start with and the refusal to take oral feeds has led to her becoming gaunt.  The mental health professionals are in action to try to address the issue, and the physical health professionals are monitoring the tube, what goes in it, whether it will stay in, etc.

We spoke to both children and that was nice.  Naren was watching the vice-presidential debates and we did not keep him long.  Nat was glowing - happy and talkative.  She and roommate were going to Connecticut for the weekend to visit a friend from college; such jaunts have lifted Nat's spirits up before.  Naren had plans to meet with a friend who is also a teacher and looked forward to it.  

Scott and I ran some errands last week and ate at a vegetarian Asian restaurant.  The food was delicious and the service - by waiters from Nagaland - was superlative.  We lingered after the meal, talking and laughing; no one asked us to hasten and leave as we were the only customers in the restaurant.  

I talked to my Father yesterday and that was fun.  Today, while watching the rain, I spoke with both my aunts and that was also nice.  It would be good to live closer to all of them, but I must make the most of where we are.

Unw -

R

Report of 4 October 2020

 Good evening!

We have tested negative and many are breathing better.  I have contracted another virus apparently, and the couch was a great place to be.  I love having the house to ourselves, especially when I am sick; there is help in cleaning the place and the lady is very good, but I do love space and privacy.  This is what I absolutely love about the U.S. - our rented spot is our own, with no one else entering.  The sense of freedom and space and breathing is priceless.  

Almost all the branches of the Banyan have COVID-positive patients and staff.  Several are admitted in the Government Hospital and several are at the Banyan facilities themselves.  Staff are being restricted and only essential personnel are on site.  Different floors have been barricaded off, and patients of 1 floor are not allowed on another.  I have been told not to physically come until directed, and to consult telephonically; Scott thinks this is wise.  PPE is available and the nurses wear N95 masks all day.  We are prepared, I am happy to report.

Scott and I went to the COVID testing center last week.  It was a straightforward, walk in and walk out affair, and I was grateful.  We did keep an eagle eye on the test tubes into which our samples went, and asked to see the labels after the nurse put them on.  Scott mentioned to our children a few weeks ago that he kept a similar eagle eye on them when they were born, and did not let them out of his sight until they were tagged.  I only knew that then.  We had similar dedication to our COVID samples and verified the labels.  We were notified 2 days later.  Thanks to all of you who emailed and shared our relief at our negative results.  

After the tests were done, we ate at "Amma Canteen," a low-priced Government-run canteen.  It was next to the testing center and I was ravenous and about to get irritable.  The place was spotless and the food was tasty.  We gave the ladies a tip due to the wonderful, happy experience.  

Health care in this city is excellent, so we would have been in good hands if we had been COVID-positive.  However, given the plethora of COVID-19's after-effects and its unpredictability, I am pretty darn relieved to not have the disease.  

Our children had been quite concerned at the tests, so we shared the results happily.  I had thought they would roll with the flow, but I know I would have been on edge if the tables had been turned, i.e., if they were going to be tested.  They have been careful with mask use and physical distancing, and Naren continues to be so, even through the resumption of contact classes at his school.  We had a splendid chat with them last week and lots of laughs; it is always nice to laugh.  

I spoke to my father today and he was most interested in the whole COVID-19 process at the Banyan, our tests, etc.  I hope I have similar intellectual curiosity as I age.  We also shared some laughs and that was lovely.  

The pandemic has taught me many things: the value of family and friends, to make do with less, to enjoy the sight of the birds from our balcony, to give to someone who has little, to take phone calls with good cheer, to pray, to be grateful for what we have and to be happy with the stray dogs who seem happy to see us.  I have loved the quiet and hope that families are spared sad news.  

Unw -

R