So for the whole 3 months that volunteers have been in India, there has been an effort to work at the leper colony. It was not until a couple of weeks ago that successful communication happened, and the head doctor invited us to come visit. He asked us to come two days. The first day was last Saturday and I was not able to go due to my trip to Delhi. Apparently on that visit, the rest of the team still in Hyderabad were given a tour of the facility. They saw where the bandages were made and were able to mingle with the residents. There is not just housing and care for the people with leprosy, but also a school for the children who are born with HIV. So today we woke up, took an auto to the Secunderabad bus stand and took a bus to the leper colony.
This was my first time EVER being there and I was extremely nervous. I have never been in a situation where people are suffering physically in this particular way. We were unsure as to what work they wanted us to do since the previous week was more of just a tour. We signed into the main office building and they escorted us to a room where we met a nurse and a nun. The nurse was extremely friendly and had us sit and get to know each other briefly. We talked about our intentions of the summer and she seemed like the person we should have talked to in order to be of more service this past summer. She told us that she wanted us to watch the wounds being cleaned and re-dressed. She said she would like us to help if we wished after watching the process.
We walked to a building that was filled with residents waiting to have their bandages redone. We were invited into this tiny room that had two chairs. Each chair had a stool type thing that had a stirrup thing for the patients to put their leg up on. We watched the one man take off the old bandage, clean the wounds, and redress it. I was doing my best to keep cool but I got extremely woozy. I had to step outside for about 5 minutes and process everything. I thought about something Brooke said regarding the body. If you understand what is happening with the body it is a lot easier to look at things that would otherwise be considered gruesome. I was able to collect myself and I went back just in time for Eliza to be working on a man's foot. They just gave her the tools and gave her slight direction. Soon after Meera was working on patients. I knew I would never get a chance to overcome this fear within myself anytime soon, and I asked for gloves. I asked Eliza if I could help her on the next patient and she kindly walked me through. She let me do some of the harder stuff on the next guy. The patients did not speak english, so we did our best to exchange names and ask if things were okay. The process of changing the bandages is quite simple.
1. Cut of the old bandages-do it slowly near the areas that have wounds as to not damage the healthy skin
2. Clean with a medicated cotton swab
3. Put an antibiotic powder on the wounds
4. Put medicated gauze on the wounds
5. Cover that with a cotton pad
6. Wrap with gauze
I am still in awe that they let us work. There was something about the experience that left us feeling really grateful in many different ways. I was grateful to Sivananda Rehabilitation Home for what they provide. The facility had a serenity that you do not find in India often. It is somehow right off of the road, and yet the trees and plants created a barrier from the world. It provides in patient and out patient care, which is so rad! These people have hope. Being able to mingle, you realize that no matter the outward appearance, there is something in each person that makes them, THEM.
After that we headed to a place called Wild Ginger (Sean! It exists elsewhere! I am pretty sure the cooks were asian, too) and all shared some Dal Makhani. It was quite bizarre to think, I was just cleaning the wounds of people suffering from leprosy and now I am eating lunch...We washed up well, but there was a part of me that just felt weird. I thought about my Dad and what he would say to me. When I told him previously about the plan to go to the leper colony he advised that I should just leave it to the professionals....Well Dad, there are no professionals, just a doctor training normal people and those normal people training us. I guess in the end that is all we have...normal people.
After lunch, we headed to the general bazaar to find some last gifts for friends and family. Everyone was successful. We all were getting along really well. We ate dinner at a place called Om Shantis. You can get a TON of food for around 120 rupees, which is like 2 bucks. I feel like I need to try as much Indian food as I can (even though I am kind of over Indian food) just because I will never get Naan for 50 cents ever again in my life.
I am still digging the vibe of this morning. I hate to be selfish, but it was so much more than service. I really did something today that I never thought I would have the chance to do...or even do if I had the chance. It was a cool day for everyone involved.
Despite the harsh conditions here, including the treatment toward women, I love India. It has taught me so much about myself and also so much about PEOPLE.
Hope you all are feeling some warm fuzzies like I am.
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