Against All Odds

Playing carroms with other patients

A hearty meal

This girl suffering from bone cancer of the right thigh bone had excruciating pain (phantom limb pain) after amputation 2 years ago. Quite clearly, she is comfortable now.

A happy patient

Nazra enjoying a proper meal after a long time

Our First Patient

Bam Bam at the time of admission

This two and a half year boy and his disoriented parents were noticed wandering around AIIMS. The infant obviously had a malignant growth, but this was yet to be positively diagnosed; he had been sent to Delhi for diagnosis and treatment. The child was unmistakably in pain and distress  and the parents at their wits end.

One day later after treatment in our Centre, Bam Bam was quite comfortable

Bam Bam was admitted into our Centre and treated appropriately with medicines and distraction therapy in the form of a little yellow bus. More noticeable was the relief and happiness the  parents had on seeing their child sit up, eat, drink and play - absolutely pain-free!

Bam Bam's  much relieved mother

Death

People fear death even more than pain. 
It's strange that they fear death. 
Life hurts a lot more than death. 
At the point of death, the pain is over. 
Yeah, I guess it is a friend.

- Jim Morrison

Gangs of Wasseypur 2

Names like Perpendicular, Tangent and the completely discombobulated Definite (बहरा जाल); Richa Chadda's mid-calf length saree and socks with slippers; ribald dialogues and earthy language more than make up for the gratuitous Tarantinoesque violence in this movie. At the end, the incessant sanguineous riddling  of Ramadhir Singh's corpse was really not required.

Can we expect GOW 3 and 4?

Setting up a Paediatric Palliative Care Unit: Step 5

I'd like to be

Under the sea

In an octopus' garden

In the shade

- (Ringo Starr Abbey Road)

George Harrison said, "'Octopus's Garden' was Ringo Starr's song. It was only the second song Ringo has ever written, mind you, and it's lovely." He added that the song gets very deep into your consciousness "...because it's so peaceful."

The song is sometimes thought of as being a song for children (and is appropriate for this ward) as it contains the lyrics 

"Oh what joy for every girl and boy

Knowing they're happy and they're safe," 

Setting up a Paediatric Palliative Care Unit: Step 4

Equipment in situ. Pristine white cubicle curtains fluttering under the fans.

Setting up a Paediatric Palliative Care Unit: Step 3

Interns and volunteers creating child friendly wards.

Setting up a Paediatric Palliative Care Unit: Step 2

Unpacking the shiny new equipment. Bursting the bubble wrap packing was a bonus.

Rest in Peace Shivam

ज़िन्दगी का सफार है, ये कैसा सफ़र

कोई समझा नहीं, कोई जाना नहीं

.................................

ऐसे जीवन भी हैं जो जिए ही  नहीं

जिनको जीने से पहले ही मौत आ गयी

फूल ऐसे भी हैं जो खिले ही नहीं

जिनको खिलने से पहले फ़िज़ा खा गई

- Sahir Ludhianvi  & Indivar from the film Safar

Confused

Stop? Wait? Go?

Addled, befuddled, confounded, nonplussed, unhinged, puzzled, flummoxed, spaced out.

Setting up a Paediatric Palliative Care Unit: Step 1

Individual cubicles demarcated and tracks for the curtains affixed. Ten beds are proposed to be set up - eight for palliative care during any stage of the cancer journey and two for the terminal stage. 

For the latter term, I prefer "preparing for the next plane of existence",  courtesy E. E. 'Doc' Smith creator of the classic Lensman series - the first intergalatic space opera.

Weighing Scales

There is an almost animal magnetism that attracts people to weighing scales.

Some Tom, Dick, Harry, Ramu, Shyamu, Ahmad, Sunita, Anita, Priya on seeing a freely accessible weighing scale anywhere around the world, will just jump onto it in a jiffy - as if his/her life depended on being weighed promptly. This is followed by an inane comment "I weigh the same as I did two hours ago"; "I've gained one kilo in the last twenty minutes"; "Oh, I've lost 1 gram since my marriage".

No permission is taken to use the machine - it's considered a constitutional right to get weighed; I wonder if a petition has submitted to have 'getting weighed'  included in the UN Charter of Human Rights.

Why don't people get their temperature measured with the same alacrity? Why don't women get their skull circumference naapoed without as much as a by your leave? Why don't men get their nail growth assessed five times a day? 

You never see people maniacally queuing up for free flatulence emission control certificates?

Setting up a Paediatric Palliative Care Unit: The Beginning

That there is a crying need for palliative care, is an undisputed fact. Paediatric palliative care is even more neglected. The mission of CanKids is: 

Enabling 

• Children with cancer and their families 

Ensuring 

• The best possible treatment and care
• Socio-economic support 
• Reintegration into society 
• Emotional support
• Continuity of care

It is at this last juncture a severe lacuna was perceived, as there is no option left for children and their hapless families once the oncologist tells them to go home as no cure is possible.

Our Centre was envisioned to fill up this gap.

The place had been identified and found to be suitable, as it was close to AIIMS and SJH. The next hurdle was getting the necessary finances. Rotary Delhi Southend were the biggest contributors.

Visit this link

http://www.thedelhiwalla.com/2012/08/16/delhis-bandaged-moments-chandni-singh-janakpuri-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-9361

Word of the Day

AUGMENT (verb): make greater, improve; as in "I will augment the matar ghobhi subzi for your dinner."

Ma'am, augment  means to add more of the same thing; supplement  means to add something, usually to make up for a deficiency. 

Do you notice the subtle but significant difference between the two. So were you planning to add more matar or gobhi to the existing pea and cabbage?