I apologize for the lack of communication with the home front. We had an awesome time in Utterkashi this weekend. We were in a village/town of Bahtwari at a Christian School. The village is in a valley surrounded by mountains with a river, or ganga, running through it. Breathtaking. I wasn't sure I would like teaching teachers that much, especially about things that seem so elementary (brushing your teeth, personal hygiene etc.) But the point was to make it so they could take the information we gave them and teach their students, most of whom do not practice these things. The staff was so thankful for everything we had taught them and by the end they were really getting into the demonstrations we had planned. It was so rewarding.
I finished up my last two days at the hospital yesterday and today. The days could not have been more opposite. Yesterday (Monday) I spent the day in the ICU with a 7 year old boy who came into the ER unable to breathe because of swelling in his face and airway. The performed an emergency tracheostomy and were giving him tons of different drugs to treat all the possible infections he could have. They have no equipment or medicine for pediatric patients, so they were giving half doses of medication. It was hard to watch because they family had no money to pay for anything so the hospital donated all the care. This also meant that he couldn't be taken to the city where he would get better care because no government hospital would take him. The nurses are not used to taking care of any patients, adult or child, with this kind of severe illness. It scared me a bit because there were times they were asking my opionion on things. Some of which I knew the answer to other times I did not. I really tried only to talk when I was asked as to not overstep my bounds. It was an interesting observation of Indian nursing care compared to American nursing care. I spent the day watching this boys vitals and calming him down because he would get so restless. It was hard because I don't know how to comfort him in Hindi so I just started praying. Despite the doctors best efforts I found out today that he died during the night. I have seen people die before but it is different with a child like this. The hardest part for me is to accept that everything that could have been done was in fact done, they just don't have the options of care that we do in the states. I am thankful for that tonight.
On the flip side today I saw my first life birth. A healthy baby boy! It was such a neat experience. (To all you mothers out there they do not give pain meds. here unless it is a complicated birth. Happy Mother's Day!!) The parents were only 19 (Yikes!) but they were so happy, especially because it is a boy, they are valued more over girls especially as first borns. I found it really neat that even though this family was Hindi the nurses prayed over the them asking God to bless this young life. What a way to celebrate International Nurses Day and my last day at LCH!
I am going to miss the hospital. It was hard at first but I finally started to find my niche and the nurses had accepted me as one of their own. It was such a nice feeling.
I cannot believe I only have one week left here. Its a melancholy feeling. I can't wait to come back and tell you all what I have experienced here. Tomorrow we are going to visit friends in the village of Kondrajack just an hours walk away. Then we have two days free and Saturday/Sunday we will be in another village that is about 4hours from here (again no phones or internet). I leave Moussoori on Monday as my flight leaves Tuesday at 12am. Wow this has gone by fast. I hope you all understand this quick update, there is so much more to share. Thanks for reading. Love to you all. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
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