The Pallium Experience

Shout out to Miss Spencer Ann! Today she turns 26 and I wish that I was able to spend time with her on her birthday.

As Adam talked about yesterday, we got to go out on our first day of home visits yesterday. Talk about a reality check. Several of the patients I met had dirt floors that had been packed in with cow dung. They slept on simple wooden or metal bed frames, often without any real mattress. One patient's family had even attached wheels to a plastic lawn chair to create a makeshift wheelchair. But these people were incredibly warm and welcoming with just their smiles! One family even gave Adam's group flowers!

Pallium India sees patients for a number of reasons besides pain, including diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. One of the doctors we were with told me that Pallium India received 1,300 new patients just in the year 2012. This does not include patients from previous years who are still participating in the Pallium program. Can you imagine? The craziest part is they do it all with six physicians and less than thirty nurses. Holy buckets. In addition to nurses and physicians, Pallium India uses social workers to take care of the family as a whole, whether it be by providing a commode for in the house or providing a soap-making kit to help bring some income to the household.

Today was another class day. Because Pallium's Dr. Raj had some unexpected things come up, he was not able to teach as much as they had planned. So Jo stepped up and taught for probably three more hours than she had planned on! After class today, one of the social workers brought in some jewelry made by one of the patients. A 50 year old, paraplegic woman earns a living for her and her family by crafting earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. She was recently featured at a Kerala art festival. They brought in samples of her jewelry and we were able to place orders for what we want and they should be ready in a week and a half! It is great to get real Indian jewelry while helping one of Pallium's patients....needless to say, I felt justified in my purchases and kept adding and adding to my list! Whoops!

Another thing about India is that tea breaks are important to the culture. Everyday we have had class, we have had tea breaks both in the morning and in the afternoon. It's serious business here. Both breaks are 30 minutes and they offer chai tea, coffee, regular tea bags, cookies, and small appetizers. I could get used to this.

Dr. Senil walking to a home. The log to the left was the old "bridge." The cement one is new.

Dr. Arun working on a chart. 

The flowers Adam's group received. He brought them back to the room for me!

Dessert at one of the best places in Trivandrum, ZamZam.

Pallium nurses walking to a home.