Just Jeshi: Rajasthan University Hospital

Friday we visited a hospital in Chennai called Rajasthan. It's associated with Rajasthan University. Similar to how the University of Utah works with their hospital. Only different.

The block we visited had 1500 beds. There are rows of metal bed frames with patients filling them. There is no privacy, no curtains, no separate rooms with their own doors, temperature settings or televisions. The patients pay less than one American dollar to stay at the hospital-- we learned that the university pays for their expenses. It was far different from the Karagiri Hospital we visited previously.

Originally we were to accompany the students from RSO to make sure they were seen by hospital staff and that they received treatment. However, when the Dean learned we had arrived he insisted we have a tour. The medical team we work with at RSO assisted the students to their appointments and we set off on a tour of the hospital.

We visited the NICU with lots of tiny babies. The babies were larger than the smallest babies in the American Neonatal ICUs. Mainly because they don't have the necessary medical instruments and equipment to keep premature babies alive. Some of the babies were the size of my hand. They were so precious. I wanted to hold them, but I wasn't sure it'd be a great idea. They kept them warm with some very old bili lights and suran wrap. Different- but again just because the way they do things is different, doesn't mean it's not right.

The PICU was the hardest for me. There was a teenaged boy with Steven Johnson's Syndrome (an adverse effect from medications). He has osteomyelitis and after receiving chemotherapy, Steven Johnson's set in. There was also a young girl, maybe twelve ( she was small enough to be about 8 or 9), with cerebral palsey. She was admitted for her fevers and continuous seizures. She looked so scared. I think it hit me hardest because she reminded me of my friend Kelly who also has cerebral palsey. It was hard watching her seize and not being able to pick her up and hold her. I wanted to comfort her.

On the pediatric unit I met a little girl who shares my name. Jessie has leukemia, but you'd never guess she was ill. She was chipper and joyful and she loved meeting an American with her name.

We visited the gynecological unit last. I wanted to see the ICU, but we ran out of time. A lot of these women don't know how birth works. Puberty and sex education are conversations unheard of. Many women don't even understand that their menstrual cycles have anything to do with pregnancy. It's normal here. But it's difficult when you have that knowledge and the older girls at RSO ask you questions. They really have every right to know how their bodies work, but we must respect their culture and keep our teaching about these subjects simple.

After the hospital we stopped at the St Thomas martyrdom site/shrine. Many people know St Thomas as "Doubting Thomas". He preached the gospel in India after Christ died. His death is still a controversy. It's unknown how he died. Some suspect he was stabbed with a spear and others say he was shot with an arrow. The site was beautiful and the outlook from the top of the mountain over the city was spectacular. Many of us fell asleep on the way home. Just kidding, everyone did, and we have some great pictures.

And of course, we made it back in time for my favorite time of day: playtime. I love these kids.