Washing hands at Nathanael Crèche

It has been awhile since I have blogged due to my Northern India Trip and being busy with last minute activities. I’ll talk about my trip to Delhi and the surrounding region this weekend. This last week I was able to spend time in Nathanael Crèche during the morning. Having the opportunity to see how the kids learn and play each day was very revealing as to why the crèches are so critical to the children’s development. First and foremost are the teachers that work in the preschools. These ladies are discipline the kid’s more than I have witnessed. Whether it be straightening them out for fighting or not staying in line, the place is run like an army camp in some instances. But when a child is down or they need a mother’s care, the ladies do all that they can to bring happiness and encouragement to the kids. The balance between the discipline and love the kids receive is remarkable and can only be given by people that give their heart and soul to the children.

The Pasam Trust Crew

One of the nicest nurses at Pasam

Dr. Susheel

Group picture with the amazing Salene

Today was my last day at Pasam Trust and my last day in the hospitals altogether. Although the hospitals were not as busy as I expected, the experience was unforgettable. After spending so much time with Dr. Mas, Raja, Dr. Arun, Dr. Susheel, and the nurses, it was hard to believe that I have to just pack up and leave. I am not sure exactly how many patients I was able to interact with, but the number of lives I saw changed by just a stethoscope and some medicine was astounding. Being able to impact lives so directly is something not able to be done in many other professions. Working with the patients has filled me with priceless medical perspectives and lessons learned, as well as motivation that will carry me through any obstacles that arise on my way back to these patients. Helping them is a dream, and partially a responsibility, in my eyes.

Outside of Pasam Trust

After a weekend of corn to celebrate the independence of America, it was back to work in the clinics. This afternoon in the rural clinic at the guesthouse, a patient came in with a highly infected finger that had a very large cut. He is a daily worker at a construction site and did not bother to take off his bandage for a week. The outer layer of skin was yellow, probably dead, and a hindrance to the healing. We decided to cut off the dead skin, revealing the bright red new skin, which indicated blood was flowing through the ceiling. He was bandaged up and instructed to return each day this week to get a new dressing. Although the clinic can get slow some days, being able to help such a man when most other medical facilities are closed is very rewarding. Today, we were also able to teach English to some of the students at Pasam Trust. Teaching others a skill that will help them in the future is always a wonderful feeling.

The surgery room at Pasam Trust

Wednesdays at Pasam are always busy. But I never realized why until today. Dr. Mas explained to me that no matter what he is there every Wednesday. If he takes any vacation, which I’m sure he rarely does, he makes sure to not skip Wednesday at the hospital. The patients in Kodaikanal and the surrounding villages may have to travel a couple hours walk to see him, and if they come expecting him and he is not there, they may never come again because they feel like he is not reliable. Though it may sound insignificant, the patients trust him to be there when they need him, and that if they need him he is sure to be there every Wednesday. Being a successful physician is not all about the skills or the intelligence, but also being consistently there for each and every patient. In today’s healthcare world, it is all about seeing many patients and getting good ratings. Though in reality, the most important job is the individual patient in a physician’s office at the moment. I hope in the future, I am sure to look after each patient as a unique individual who has fears, doubts, and a history that cannot be understood through a textbook. Only will this allow me to truly impact there life in a positive way.