Renu's Week

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Report of 30 May 2021

 Good evening!

There are no lights on the Muttukadu bridge: the lockdown is here and has been extended by another week.  Scott and I have food in the fridge and freezer, and a fridge shelf full of mangoes, so clearly we are set.  Scott is talking to his mother on a free Whatsapp call and I have just finished talking to my father, who is well by the grace of God, as he would say.

We are well and hope the same with you.  I turned 58 last week and the day was merry: chat with our children, a couple of sweet food treats and a day of work.  The day after that, calls to our COVID helpline started decreasing: our state's new administration has been quick to rope in fine talent from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and put in place all manner of measures to ease the situation.  Beds and oxygen are available in Chennai and more and more available in other areas.  I am immensely hopeful that this is the case in other states.  

The volunteers on the COVID helpline have a proven track record: at times of the tsunami or the floods in 2015, these folks came to the fore and put in place systems to aid.  No different this time, and it is a privilege to work alongside and triage.  The early days were a bit difficult, and we had our share of heartbreaks with not being able to reach people in time, but the days are better now.  It is a tremendous joy to work alongside such visionary, committed, intelligent folks.  

Scott's consulting continues from home and he is happy to be doing it.  Truly, Internet has become as necessary as food and shelter.  When we were in Madurai last week, we used our phones' data and that was fine for that situation; it is nice to have Internet for our laptops, too.  

I saw a spectacular movie on Netflix today - "Inside Man," from a few years ago.  It is nice to watch a good movie.  We have a son in that industry and were firm fans before he got in the industry.  Our daughter is a farmer, and we have new respect for that industry as we bite into our cold mango.  

We hope you stay well and safe.  I remain very grateful for your presence in my life.

Unw -

R  

posted by Renu at 6:54 AM | 3 comments

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Report of 24 May 2021

 Good morning!

Our washing machine is whirring, a handsome husband is on the sofa reading today's paper, some millets (a hardy, hearty grain) are cooking on the stove and we are back.  

We arrived less than 3 weeks ago, I started working with the COVID helpline organised by the Very Visionary Vaishnavi 3 days after arrival and it has been nonstop.  The crew is Vintage Volunteer, used to focusing on pressing causes with no thought for remuneration, and has a solid track record.  Vaish (with Vandana) founded the B 28 years ago, has since achieved wonders with the Disability Rights Alliance - in a country where disabled are invisible and thought not to exist - and has likely done much, much more than I am aware of.  The crew assisting on the helpline is from around the world - all committed, all diligent, articulate, communicative, keenly aware of the mission.  Most communication is through text, and is unfailingly succinct and professional.  This is a joy!  Sometimes, I veer off into a personal few words - which I am trying to rein in - and they are tolerated.  

The group is called "Chennai Cares," and we were focusing on Chennai, but now have calls from around the state.  According to other writeups in the paper, there are groups such as ours in many other states.  A 16 year old in another state said something to the effect of, "If the Government denies us basic health care, we have to step up."  I love the zeal that tough situations create in the young.  

My father tested positive for COVID last week and I got the phone call from the family that helps care for him.  After that, I had to triage a call here at work and nothing moved for me, even speech - no cognition, clear thinking, reasoning, basic gathering of info - nothing.  As much as I think we can prepare ourselves for such news, we truly cannot.  I told my work crew that I had a medical emergency and had to step away.  Our vehicle had not had the servicing necessary to keep it running and the lockdown had closed workshops, too, so we had no wheels.  We booked by air and flew to Madurai.  I love the Madurai flight - folks are dressed in their best, everything is festive and excited, no one is jaded by flying; it's like a school "excursion" and I fully expect someone to pass out tamarind rice packets.  Anyway, we got to Madurai, got a cab and headed home.  My father was seated at the dining table, waiting for us.  The help had made a spectacular lunch, we ate, assessed my father and then rested.  More of the same in the evening, except a quick run to the medical shop to get some extra supplies - 1 corner of the shop also has groceries.  We returned home and repeated the routine the next day.  On day 3, we invested in a pulse oximeter and saw that my Dad's oxygenation was good - thanks, God.  Towards the end of day 3, a more stringent lockdown was announced and we mulled over returning to Chennai; we discussed it with my Dad and he approved, so we booked tickets to travel to Chennai.  My father has had the full vaccination, thus his infection is a "breakthrough infection."  Thankfully, symptoms are usually mild and it was the same with my Dad.  Ideally, we would have preferred his isolation, etc., but logistical challenges existed.  

We managed to talk to both children on a video call from Madurai.  All parties - grandparent, parents, children - were happy to see each other and my Dad chuckled at a few things the children said.  His entire demeanor perked up while talking to them; I guess this is the joy of grandkids, eh.  

A beloved former colleague now runs a taxi service and he picked us up at Chennai airport.  Being with Velan is like salve; his speech is measured and matter of fact and warm.  His goodwill is apparent.  We stopped at a couple of grocery stores en route - some had been wiped clean, but our local little grocer had lots of veges.  We bought, and headed home.  We invited Velan in for a cup of tea but he declined; he said, "If your children have any program, I can help."  I told him neither child looked close to marrying, and thanked him.  Scott handed over the couple of things we had bought for Velan at the store; it was nice to see the expression of surprise on Velan's face.  It was a delightful way to get home.  

Chennai was overcast and Scott and I capitalised on it (otherwise, the heat is stupefying) to walk to the store next door - almost next door.  It is a "supermarket" and they had all sorts of goodies: produce, toned milk (does not have to be refrigerated until opened), nice cheese and exemplary service.  We let the manager know of our joy and left with our bags of merchandise.  We stopped for a tender coconut.  The seller said, "Wow, it's been so long since I have seen you!," and in the course of conversation, "Have you been to Madurai recently?"  So, she did remember us, it was not a fake attempt at geniality and we enjoyed the chat.  The last time I saw her, there was a bouncing baby boy crawling around the shop; I said, "How is your son?" and she said, "He is in the third standard (grade)."  After my being recovered from that news, we chatted, and had coconut.  She cut 3 for the 2 of us as I was after the harder variety of coconut, not the tender, slippery kind.  She charged us for 2, we paid a little extra and left.  It was nice to walk everywhere.  

We got home to find that the lady who helps take care of the house had arrived with her daughter and they were busy cleaning.  I thought this extraordinarily considerate: a lockdown was to arrive on 24 May, and the ladies came speedily over on 23 May and cleaned our house.  We had not told them of our return from Madurai, and had not expected to see them for a few days.  It was a treat to see both - they are fine, good and loving people - and we had a nice evening.  We gave them some treats ("foreign chocolate" - always a novelty) and some money that our children had sent for them, and I know for a fact that blessings from this family will go to mine.  

I am back at work this morning.  My friend, Fanny, had graciously passed on some clothes to me and I am in a thin cotton dress from that gift; it has stick figures of women frolicking and dancing, and I love it.  The dress stops well above my knees and I would not wear it outside the house here.  It is lightweight and well-made, and suits the climate here.  We are triaging calls and reassuring anxious relatives.  It is nice work.  I have also eaten a cold Imam Pasand mango and that always helps the morning.  

We talked to Naren this morning and talked to Nat last week.  It is nice to talk to children.  

Our blessings are many, many.  We hope yours are, too.  Thank you, God.  

Unw -

R

posted by Renu at 10:29 PM | 1 comments

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Report of 16 May 2021

 Good evening - 

Blue sea, handsome husband - new goatee and all - nearby, a slight break from the COVID helpline and I will quickly blog plus try to do some CME (continuing medical education).  One day, I started CME at 8 AM and finished the 45-minute lecture at 5.45 PM - helpline activities predominated.  

So, the whole funda (fundamental) is that Vaishnavi, one of the 2 founders of the Banyan, put together a volunteer group to do what the Govt cannot - match COVID patients to beds.  We triage, and either keep patients at home or find oxygen/beds for them.  It is nice work - stupefyingly busy.  I don't usually see my husband the whole day and both of us work from home.  

The days of sitting in our pretty Muncie apartment, looking out of the window at the pond (I love water - ponds, lakes, rivers, seas) and eating oatmeal loaded with raisins and nuts and banana, seem so idyllic now.  Work is great, of course, and it is nice to be a small part of the solution.

So, for those of you who have heard how devastating COVID has been in India, it is true.  Please know there are also hordes of good people springing to the solution here.  And it is wonderful to work with them.  

N and N and we got to speak on Mother's Day.  That was very nice.  I got a list of 30 ways I was a good mother; it was sweet.  

Unw -

R

posted by Renu at 4:56 AM | 0 comments

Thursday, May 06, 2021

Report of 6 May 2021

Good afternoon!  

The sun is shining on the sea, the view is clear and crisp, and we have partaken of a cold mango.  The best mangoes come out in the summer, and make up for the intense heat.

We are home safely.  United left on time, and service was good.  The plane was almost empty.  Scott had filled out all the paperwork necessary to get us on the plane.  I had to render medical assistance on the flight.  The patient - my husband.  As I got up from a night's sleep, he stated that he did not feel well, had felt a pop in his left leg, got nauseated and could not bear weight on the leg.  The orthopedic exam is a challenge at the best of times - stabilize, pull, push (What do I pull?  What do I push?  Where's Google?) - and in an airplane seat, well, well.  But I managed; the knee joint seemed stable and when I mooshed, there was pain in his muscles.  I diagnosed a severe muscle spasm from all the heavy lifting + the lengthy drives.  Scott took Tylenol, I got out the ibuprofen - as we age, we travel with medication within reach - and hoped for the best.  I asked the flight attendant for a banana, wanting to replete Scott's electrolytes, and she gave me her personal fruit as the airline did not stock fruit.  Super kind and I did not want to take it, but she had 2.  Another flight attendant suggested tonic water, Scott had that and seemed mildly better.  I asked if I could look at the plane's stash of meds, and the flight attendants had to see my medical licence before they opened the kit.  They also consulted with a medical advisory service.  I looked at the meds, found some lidocaine solution and got excited about the cream; it turned out to be an oral solution and we did not want that yet.  3 of us - 2 flight attendants including the purser (chief attendant) and I - looked at the list of meds and then the kit with glasses on; it was quite a sight, as all us aging folks pored over the meds.  I decided we did not need any meds, and thanked the staff.  The purser (chief attendant) asked if we wanted a wheelchair in Mumbai airport and I said yes.  

We got through the formalities in Mumbai with my husband in a wheelchair - quite novel.  Then we went to a transit hotel 2 floors below.  Very convenient and much more comfortable than 14 hours in an airport chair.  Scott - an avid yoga proponent - stretched and did some asanas, and we slept.  The next day, more ibuprofen, he could bear weight on the leg and we came to Chennai.  There was some excitement at the domestic flight with potentially overweight bags, but they saw that our baggage allowance was higher than the 50 pounds normally allowed, and did not charge us.  

I went an-exercising this morning; the frangipani are blooming - pretty pink and more pink, the brilliantly red/orange gulmohur (flame of the forest) is not yet blossoming, and the sun came out fairly quickly.  I was in shorts - not de rigueur for me as I do not want to rock the boat in the homeland and stay with more conservative clothing.  However, as I age, I think the heck with it - got to be comfortable when exercising.  I did not take into account the intense heat or that my body had just got used to 50 degree temps in Muncie, and came down with some heat exhaustion.  Pukey, tired, etc.  So I am on our sofa, drinking vats of water.  A lovely sea breeze has emerged, we have all the doors open, and the ambient temperature has decreased.  

We saw both our children before we left.  Nat came to Muncie and helped us clear out of our apartment, taking food that I was absolutely loath to throw.  We saw Naren in Newark; he also took food that we removed from our suitcases to try and make them wieldy; we handed over nuts and chocolate.  In addition to the unique joy that only children can bring, I was super grateful to not have to throw food and was happy the children helped.

There are some very fine minds in India and many are hard at work to address the pandemic.  The owner of the clinic/small hospital that I sometimes see patients at has worked overtime, addressing desperate people calling for beds and doing all he can to accommodate every request.  Patients who get the diagnosis of COVID think they must be hospitalised: I have just fielded a message from my sister-in-law about a common friend who got the diagnosis, plus a CT scan by a specialist that shows some inflammation and "she must be hospitalised."  I have explained that if she does not have trouble breathing, she can be safely isolated at home and CT scans must not be used in diagnosis.  The situation here is chaotic.  Profiteering, private citizens hoarding oxygen cylinders, Remdesivir being hawked at high rates, the poor CEO of a vaccine company being hounded out of the country, vaccines not administered without a fee, ignorance of patients demanding oxygen.  This last part is the hardest - no amount of educating can convince well-breathing individuals not to get O2 when they view it as life-saving.  If patients are not given what they want, threats often ensue.  We are hopeful of some sense in this mess as we head in to the umpteenth lockdown today.  I look forward to contributing my mite as a physician.   

Still a fine profession to be in - whether I am treating COVID or a severe muscle strain.  

I will tell you this; as much as all of us brace for a time when the spouse might not be with us, nothing really prepares us.  In a different situation, a colleague's husband apparently stated that his entire world darkened; it was that way with Scott and his inability to bear weight on his leg.  After the initial THUD THUD of my pulse (What the heck happens now?  Is it his ACL?  How could that have happened?  An ortho exam???), I had to calm down ("Check your own pulse, doctor"), stay calm on the outside (and inside) and work through the steps - get the history, ask tons of questions, do a thorough exam.  And then, halleluia, wait for the meds and stretches to take effect.  I was lucky with this instance.  The sun is out today.  

Along with the knowledge that there are, indeed, good people everywhere - flight attendants who will sacrifice their personal banana, a wheelchair attendant who had to pull one wheelchair and push another, a hotel employee who asked 2 travellers if breakfast was okay, children who will take all the food their parent clears out of the fridge/suitcase knowing how viscerally their mother hates to throw food, an assistant who has cleaned the house in Chennai and stocked the fridge with delicious food and some treats.  Folks such as yourselves, whom I consider privileged to know.  

Stay safe and well.

R
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posted by Renu at 4:57 AM | 0 comments


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