LWH

I thought a detailed entry of Lady Willingdon was in order so that those of you reading this can understand what goes on there and what exactly we as students are experiencing. 

First of all Lady Willingdon is a Christian based hospital located in a primarily Hindu area. In the mornings, before doing rounds in ICU, we attend devotion. Typically this is led by the head doctor and surgeon, Dr. Philip Alexander. He speaks a few inspirational words, someone may read a few verses from the bible, they sing a song in Hindi, and we have a closing prayer. Not everyone attends but many of the nurses do and whatever doctors are available to come as well. 

Throughout the hospital you’ll find biblical verses and images on the windows, walls, and doorways. It’s a very spiritual place to be, and for me at least, I find it quite calming and hopeful. When speaking with the doctors they have told me that they are doing God’s will and that he helps them in what they do and drives them to continue doing it. I really loved the picture inside of the operation theater that hangs on the door which depicts several surgeons working on a patient and Jesus stands behind them with his hand on their shoulders. 

Dr. Alexander is referred to as “Sir.” The staff and the patients admire him and his passionate work. He can be very rough at times, which to Americans is a bit intimidating to watch, but he works with such precision and confidence that he is able to do complex surgeries quickly and efficiently. It’s an amazing sight to see. 

I think there is a common misconception of the available resources, work ethic, and knowledge/skill of Indian hospitals and the staff. I must admit, I had several misconceptions before I arrived.  But these doctors do not make the money that ours do. They’re not about business and profit, they’re here for the patients and their faith. They take time out of the several hundred patients seen every day and multiple surgeries to be performed to explain to undergraduate students what they’re doing, how they are doing it, and why it needs to be done. I have learned so much about this culture, this hospital, Indian people, and myself from the staff of LWH. 

Yesterday I sat with Dr. Parvesh who, after every patient seen, stopped and explained to me what was discussed. He told me the patient’s history, let me read their records, told me what their symptoms were, and how they could be treated. We also looked at X-rays. He answered all of my questions, which I thought at times seemed so trivial. We talked for quite some time comparing the Indian school system to American school system, about why he became a doctor and the differences between the health systems here and back home. Apparently in 10th grade (age 14) you decide what field you are going to enter. Then your 11th and 12th grade years are spent preparing and testing for it. Right after 12th grade you enter medical school, if that is the direction you had chosen. Unlike America, once this decision is made, there is no changing it. The amazing realization after that conversation, was that as much as I learned from him, he may have learned something about our culture from me as well. 

I saw a women who had an induced abortion and many young boys suffering from tuberculosis complications. Through all of them he was calm and collected. And yet, he saw about 20 patients in the time that it would take me to be called out of the waiting room for an appointment at my family doctor’s office back home. 

Today we were called out of rounds to attend 3 surgeries. One on a young boy’s neck to remove a lymph node, a testicular biopsy, and a urethral blockage. Each procedure took less than 20 minutes, with 2 being performed simultaneously. These were much harder for me to watch than the major surgeries for some reason and I felt myself getting sick several times so I was in and out of the room. After the 2nd surgery, Dr. Alexander explained to us what he had done which was really wonderful since, at times, we were thinking “Oooohh my goodness WHY is he doing that?!” 

Tomorrow I’m finally meeting the dietician, who has been on leave for the past week. Hopefully she can offer some insight to my personal research. It is also our last day at the hospital. Next week we leave to go 3 hours away to Jibhi, in the middle of nowhere. Apparently it is beautiful and peaceful according to the other 2 groups so it should be fun. Just am sad to leave the hospital because I feel like I am learning so much and I really enjoy the people. Even some of the sickest ones can manage a smile when you walk through their room.