So, it's my last day here at The Leprosy Mission Hospital in Naini. I have mixed emotions about leaving. I've had a fantastic time here, made some great friends and would gladly stay longer (though maybe not into the monsoon season) but will be seeing Ryan for the first time in 8 weeks tomorrow for an explore of North Western India together.
Here are 5 points that I could have written about but didn't have the time:-
1. Surgery
I've undoubtedly spent more time in operation theatres seeing surgery here than in my entire 5 years of medical school in the UK. Dr Premal Das is the only surgeon so has a huge range of skills which I find very impressive. I've also had the chance to carry out some of the surgery myself, notably skin grafts to cover ulcers, caesarean sections, and the removal of various lumps. This has usually meant that everyone's gone home half an hour later than usual but I really appreciate their patience. This Tuesday I was left to do some stitches while Dr Das moved on to the next surgery so I'd like to think that I finally saved a bit of time, though my slow excision of a lipoma earlier that day probably made up for it! I may never see the inside of an operation theatre again so am delighted that after so long in medical school someone has finally inspired me to appreciate that surgery can be amazing and not boring.
2. Chapel.
I've been to church every day since Easter, wow! I hope this makes up for the fact that I was on a plane during the Good Friday service. Morning Church of Northern India chapel services have been a brilliant way to start each day. Although I couldn't understand most of the time, I could follow the daily Bible reading in English as well as the daily devotional prayers said all over TLM centres in India that are also written in English. These 20 minutes each morning gave me a chance to rest, put my trust in God, and prepare for the day ahead of me. On Wednesday I led the service with a talk about my faith and a reading that I'd chosen - Pslam 25 verses 1-5 if you're interested. Daily chapel offered comfort in the first couple of weeks while I was settling in, and more recently have been a place where I catch up with friends over a cup of chai and biscuits afterwards. I made the right choice in carrying out my elective in a Mission hospital.
3. Sightseeing.
One of my favourite moments was when I went on a boat trip to the Sangam with the CMCV students and junior doctors. The Sangam is a very holy point for Hindus where the rivers Ganges and Yamuna meet, as well as a mythical river. It was the site of the huge Kumbh Mela earlier this year - the biggest religious gathering in the world, ever. As well as this, we visited Anand Bhavan - the home of the Nehru family that provided India with its first Prime Minister when it gained independence.
4. The rabid monkey.
So there was a money on the loose within the campus that was biting people. It was costing staff and patients a lot of money. Children were not allowed out alone, and I stayed indoors at night to eat my bread and jam rather than venture to the dining hall. It bit a total of 5 people - 2 staff members, 1 staff child, and 2 patients. Patients were moved wards, and cottage patients were feeding it breakfast so that it wouldn't eat the bananas in the trap set for it. A week after the first bite, the monkey was caught by a monkey-catcher with a cork hat called Tarzan. The hospital breathed a sigh of relief.
5. The weather.
Such a huge topic! So when I arrived on March 31st it was a hot but bearable 38 degrees C. I was told "Wait until April." In April a desert cooler had to be installed in my room (an ugly device that requires electricity and a tub of water) and my fan turned up to full in order to sleep at night, with temperatures averaging 42 C. I was told "Wait until May." May has been consistently hot with a maximum of 46 C, and this week it's also become humid. I didn't understand the importance of humidity before Monday, the first day when I thought "Take me back to the UK right now!" - it was that bad. I walked the 3 minutes back from eating dinner at 9pm at night and was sweating all over. Thankfully it's become less since then. I've been told "It'll get worse in June" - I'm pleased that in June I'll be mainly in the Himalayas or in the UK!
I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me with this trip. A year or so ago I emailed the TLM England and Wales office and without Alisia's reply and my crazy day trip from Bristol to Peterborough I wouldn't be here. Thank you.
Thanks to everyone here in Naini who has made me feel so welcome. I think that this has played a big part in my happiness here. I'm going to remember you all fondly.
Random mention - This is the first time that I've spent 8 weeks sleeping in the same bed for about 5 years! I hope I don't have to wait another 5 years for that luxury, or have to travel as far to get it.
Next stop(s): Delhi -> Agra -> Jaipur -> Shimla -> Delhi -> U.K.
Thanks for reading: This blog's had 562 page views at time of typing.
Becky :)
(I may put up some photos of our travels if you're lucky and we have internet access!)
Here are 5 points that I could have written about but didn't have the time:-
1. Surgery
I've undoubtedly spent more time in operation theatres seeing surgery here than in my entire 5 years of medical school in the UK. Dr Premal Das is the only surgeon so has a huge range of skills which I find very impressive. I've also had the chance to carry out some of the surgery myself, notably skin grafts to cover ulcers, caesarean sections, and the removal of various lumps. This has usually meant that everyone's gone home half an hour later than usual but I really appreciate their patience. This Tuesday I was left to do some stitches while Dr Das moved on to the next surgery so I'd like to think that I finally saved a bit of time, though my slow excision of a lipoma earlier that day probably made up for it! I may never see the inside of an operation theatre again so am delighted that after so long in medical school someone has finally inspired me to appreciate that surgery can be amazing and not boring.
 |
| Ooo, gory photo of surgery |
2. Chapel.
I've been to church every day since Easter, wow! I hope this makes up for the fact that I was on a plane during the Good Friday service. Morning Church of Northern India chapel services have been a brilliant way to start each day. Although I couldn't understand most of the time, I could follow the daily Bible reading in English as well as the daily devotional prayers said all over TLM centres in India that are also written in English. These 20 minutes each morning gave me a chance to rest, put my trust in God, and prepare for the day ahead of me. On Wednesday I led the service with a talk about my faith and a reading that I'd chosen - Pslam 25 verses 1-5 if you're interested. Daily chapel offered comfort in the first couple of weeks while I was settling in, and more recently have been a place where I catch up with friends over a cup of chai and biscuits afterwards. I made the right choice in carrying out my elective in a Mission hospital.
3. Sightseeing.
One of my favourite moments was when I went on a boat trip to the Sangam with the CMCV students and junior doctors. The Sangam is a very holy point for Hindus where the rivers Ganges and Yamuna meet, as well as a mythical river. It was the site of the huge Kumbh Mela earlier this year - the biggest religious gathering in the world, ever. As well as this, we visited Anand Bhavan - the home of the Nehru family that provided India with its first Prime Minister when it gained independence.
 |
| I'm proud of this photo! |
4. The rabid monkey.
So there was a money on the loose within the campus that was biting people. It was costing staff and patients a lot of money. Children were not allowed out alone, and I stayed indoors at night to eat my bread and jam rather than venture to the dining hall. It bit a total of 5 people - 2 staff members, 1 staff child, and 2 patients. Patients were moved wards, and cottage patients were feeding it breakfast so that it wouldn't eat the bananas in the trap set for it. A week after the first bite, the monkey was caught by a monkey-catcher with a cork hat called Tarzan. The hospital breathed a sigh of relief.
5. The weather.
Such a huge topic! So when I arrived on March 31st it was a hot but bearable 38 degrees C. I was told "Wait until April." In April a desert cooler had to be installed in my room (an ugly device that requires electricity and a tub of water) and my fan turned up to full in order to sleep at night, with temperatures averaging 42 C. I was told "Wait until May." May has been consistently hot with a maximum of 46 C, and this week it's also become humid. I didn't understand the importance of humidity before Monday, the first day when I thought "Take me back to the UK right now!" - it was that bad. I walked the 3 minutes back from eating dinner at 9pm at night and was sweating all over. Thankfully it's become less since then. I've been told "It'll get worse in June" - I'm pleased that in June I'll be mainly in the Himalayas or in the UK!
 |
| 42.6 C is a low point here... |
I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me with this trip. A year or so ago I emailed the TLM England and Wales office and without Alisia's reply and my crazy day trip from Bristol to Peterborough I wouldn't be here. Thank you.
Thanks to everyone here in Naini who has made me feel so welcome. I think that this has played a big part in my happiness here. I'm going to remember you all fondly.
Random mention - This is the first time that I've spent 8 weeks sleeping in the same bed for about 5 years! I hope I don't have to wait another 5 years for that luxury, or have to travel as far to get it.
Next stop(s): Delhi -> Agra -> Jaipur -> Shimla -> Delhi -> U.K.
Thanks for reading: This blog's had 562 page views at time of typing.
Becky :)
(I may put up some photos of our travels if you're lucky and we have internet access!)
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