In order to get a certificate and recommendation letter from Dr. Hanumantha Rao, chairman of Sweekar, I was required to write a report with a detailed account of what I did here at Sweekar. I have typed this report and attached it to this blog post! Here it is!
My experience at Sweekar-Upakar has proven to be enlightening, satisfying, and even life-changing. I began working at Sweekar as a volunteer but emerged as a better person, with a new perspective on life and medicine. Over a period of three weeks, I was able to spend time in each one of the departments. Whether it was the Child Developmental Center or the Out Patient Department, the staff was extremely gregarious and knowledgeable. I was able to learn so much through observation, and took extensive notes on each of the patients I saw. Overall, my time spent at Sweekar was extremely informative and interesting, and the exposure to a facility like this allowed me to learn a lot about Indian culture as well as to appreciate my own circumstances more.
Approximately twelve to fourteen percent of children in India have a learning disability. The first department that I began volunteering in was the CLD (Center for Learning Disabilities). The staff was very hospitable, and explained all the different educational techniques utilized in this department. They began by discussing the team that travels to KV schools to pinpoint the students who have learning disabilities. Once they have found these students, they bring them to Sweekar and use a myriad of educational procedures to help these students learn. There are four targeted components in the CLD, which include sight, speech, sense, and writing. Some of the methods used to improve these components include sand writing, far-point and near-point copying, window therapy, sponge therapy, clay therapy, visits to the sensory park, dribbling, and puzzles. They are timed for all of these tasks and although improvement is very slow in these children, it is noticeable. In this department, I had the opportunity to work with the children, and this hands-down experience was very beneficial. It was such a wonderful feeling to teach these children, especially when they finally understood a concept or showed signs of improvement.
The next department I visited was the OPD (Out-Patient Department). This is the department in which all patients begin the process of treatment. The families arrive and are asked a series of personal and medical questions so that they can be sent to the appropriate department for treatment. One of the most important things I noticed in the OPD were the cultural differences between India and America. Sweekar is a multispecialty rehabilitation center in which all different disorders are in one place. In America, there are different facilities for each disorder. This simply means that there are an immense number of patients using Sweekar-Upakar for treatment. In the OPD I was startled by the vast number of patients. Each patient came in with different symptoms and backgrounds, truly proving that “no case is the same.” Another cultural difference I noticed was that the parents did not appear to be well informed about their children’s medical history. When asked simple questions, like whether or not the delivery was natural or a caesarian section, they did not know the answer. Information like this is crucial for diagnosis, and if the parents cannot provide this, the doctors are not able to analyze the child appropriately. After the OPD I went to the clinic to observe the diagnosis of the patients done by Dr. Hanumantha Rao. This was one of my favorite facets of my volunteering, because I was able to observe a doctor interact with patients and diagnose them. In my future I hope to pursue a career in medicine, and this experience made me sure that my choice to become a doctor was the right one. Dr. Hanumantha Rao was so compassionate towards the patients, and was able to quickly diagnose each one of them. This affection and empathy shown towards patients is a vital part of being a doctor, and I really enjoyed observing this. I also gained a lot of valuable knowledge about different disorders by actually seeing each patient and the symptoms they showed. I also noticed another cultural difference during my time in the clinic. A lot of the patients that visited the clinic were much older. Early detection is such an important part of treatment, and this was not the case for many patients. Because of this, many patients were advised to focus on vocational skills rather than academics.
The next few departments I volunteered in were Psychology, Physiotherapy, and the CDC (Child Developmental Center). In the Psychology department, I received exposure to the actual social, academic, and behavioral analysis of children. The first day, I observed a variety of tests being administered to a child. It was so interesting to watch the child either struggle or successfully complete each tasks. Some of the things I noticed in this child were lack of focus and concentration, hyperactivity, and educational difficulties. The ultimate diagnosis for this case was moderate mental retardation. I asked the panel of psychologists what the next step was in treating this child and they said they would send him to the CLD, and provide counseling for the parents. The next department that I visited was Physiotherapy. One of the crucial things I discovered in this department was that improvement and success was far more noticeable in physiotherapy patients than in mentally handicapped patients. The staff here was very informed and helpful. They taught me about the function of each machine. Foe example, the TENS (Trans Cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator) was one of the many machines I learned about. This machine pinpoints small areas. A pad is applied to the damaged area and then electricity is sent through the pad in a diagonal direction with a small point at the center. The center receives the electricity and removes lactic acid and other fluids which cause the pain in the specific area. These fluids are then sent to the lymph nodes so that they can exit the body. In addition to the physiotherapy machines, I also saw several patients. Some of the disorders I saw were Bells Palsy, Cerebral Palsy, Radial Palsy, inflammation of the joints, and lower knee weakness. In most of these cases the physiotherapy doctors stretched and massaged the damaged areas or used one of the various machines. I found that improvement was usually visible after the first few weeks of treatment. The final department I visited was the CDC. In this department there were various sectors such as behavioral therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and ADHD and Autism therapy. I was able to spend time in each of these departments and observe the interaction between the doctors and patients. It was so interesting to watch each child, and I again noticed that each case is so different. Some of the cases I saw in the CDC included Cerebral Palsy, Mild mental retardation, and Autism.
There are so many important lessons that I have gained through this internship at Sweekar. The biological and scientific knowledge was invaluable and seeing this information in practical examples was so beneficial. I have also learned the importance of awareness. Exposure to a rehabilitation center in a developing country gave me a huge appreciation for the facilities we have in the United States. Finally, the most important lesson that I have learned is the value of community service. “The smallest good deed is better than the greatest good intention.” The validity of this quote was confirmed by my experience here at Sweekar. Knowing that I was able to use my time to help those in need is an indescribable feeling. It is a tremendous feeling; one that you can only obtain through volunteering. I arrived at Sweekar hoping to make a difference in the community, but I found that Sweekar changed me. I have discovered a newfound appreciation for my own life and health, as well as a love and passion for medicine and helping others.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Last Day
Today was my last day at Sweekar. It was a bittersweet day, as I was sad to leave all the wonderful children and staff I had met, but I was so happy and grateful for the experience and everything that I have learned here. I'll be honest, when I usually begin programs like these it is due to the insistence of my parents, not because I actually want to do these things. I'm like any other kid who just wants to lounge around at home during their summer and hang out with friends. But I am so thankful that I have parents who push me to do things like these, because the experience I have gotten here is something I will cherish forever. The people I have met here and their affection and love will always mean so much to me. I had the time of my life here, while also giving back to the community of a developing country, and that is something that is so much more valuable than a carefree summer spent with friends.
So on a lighter note, my last day at Sweekar was spent at the Shruti Hearing and Speech Institute. I was so excited to go here, because I am very interested in how the ear works. But unfortunately, it was Saturday and there were not many patients. But I did have the opportunity to see a few children get hearing tests. I also got to meet the staff, who was again nothing but friendly and welcoming. They gave me a lot of information on the instituthttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4710853287954572807e and hearing and here it is
*This is a Diagnostic Augiology Department. Children are sent here to have their hearing tested. The hearing test is as follows:
The patient is placed in a room with speakers, a doctor and their parents. There is another room in which the sound is controlled by a panel of doctors. The frequency, intensity, and decibel level of the sound is changed and is heard in the room in which the patient is. The patient will generally react to the sound by turning their head, looking for the source of the sound, or smiling and laughing. If the patient does not do this, then they are declared to have a hearing problem. One of the patients I saw had moderate hearing loss, because he was only able to hear sounds at a certain decibel level.
These are some pictures of the technology used for the hearing tests administered by the doctors. These machines enable the doctors to change the frequency, decibel, and pulse of the sound the children hear in a seperate room.
The speakers placed in the room where the child is.
The sound system and headphones in the room where the patient is.
The door that connects the room that the patient is in to the room where the sound is controlled.
Another one of the machines in the sound control room.
The window where doctors can observe the patient's reaction the sound.
The next stop after the hearing test was the place where the hearing aids are made. It was so interesting to see all the effort and time put into making these machines.
One of the things I have discovered during my volunteering experience here in India is that I adore children. They are so sweet and affectionate, and no matter what obstacles and difficulties they face, they always manage to have an optimistic smile on their face. Our final stop was Group Therapy, where the children do different exercises to enhance their hearing. All of the children in this group had hearing aids. And I had such a good time playing with them and talking to them.
A big thanks to the group therapy teachers, who were so compassionate and patient towards the children!
So on a lighter note, my last day at Sweekar was spent at the Shruti Hearing and Speech Institute. I was so excited to go here, because I am very interested in how the ear works. But unfortunately, it was Saturday and there were not many patients. But I did have the opportunity to see a few children get hearing tests. I also got to meet the staff, who was again nothing but friendly and welcoming. They gave me a lot of information on the instituthttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4710853287954572807e and hearing and here it is
*This is a Diagnostic Augiology Department. Children are sent here to have their hearing tested. The hearing test is as follows:
The patient is placed in a room with speakers, a doctor and their parents. There is another room in which the sound is controlled by a panel of doctors. The frequency, intensity, and decibel level of the sound is changed and is heard in the room in which the patient is. The patient will generally react to the sound by turning their head, looking for the source of the sound, or smiling and laughing. If the patient does not do this, then they are declared to have a hearing problem. One of the patients I saw had moderate hearing loss, because he was only able to hear sounds at a certain decibel level.
These are some pictures of the technology used for the hearing tests administered by the doctors. These machines enable the doctors to change the frequency, decibel, and pulse of the sound the children hear in a seperate room.
The speakers placed in the room where the child is.
The sound system and headphones in the room where the patient is.
The door that connects the room that the patient is in to the room where the sound is controlled.
Another one of the machines in the sound control room.
The window where doctors can observe the patient's reaction the sound.
The next stop after the hearing test was the place where the hearing aids are made. It was so interesting to see all the effort and time put into making these machines.
One of the things I have discovered during my volunteering experience here in India is that I adore children. They are so sweet and affectionate, and no matter what obstacles and difficulties they face, they always manage to have an optimistic smile on their face. Our final stop was Group Therapy, where the children do different exercises to enhance their hearing. All of the children in this group had hearing aids. And I had such a good time playing with them and talking to them.
A big thanks to the group therapy teachers, who were so compassionate and patient towards the children!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Red Cross Maternity and Family Welfare Center
Wow! I've said it again and again to the point where it sounds redundant but opportunities like this do not come knocking in the US. Today was such an enlightening day, as it was my first experience with witnessing an actual surgery at the Red Cross Maternity and Family Welfare Center.
After I completed my volunteering at Sweekar, Ammama took me to the Red Cross Family care hospital. This hospital is funded by the national and state government, and specializes in Tubectomies and Vasectomies (which are surgeries that prevent a woman from having a child). I was informed that I would actually get to witness this procedure being done on a few woman, and was so excited to actually see a doctor operate. Before the surgery, I got some information on the procedure, so that I would be able to fully understand the surgery while it was occurring.
There are two procedures to complete the Tubectomy for women. The first one is Lapriscopic and the second is Mini Lapriscopic. In the first surgery the doctor makes two small incisions a couple inches apart, and then sends electricity through the incisions in order to cut or tie off the tubes. If the tubes are cut, then the woman can never have children again, but if they are tied off, it is only temporary. At the Red Cross, local anestethic was given to the patients, which means that anesthetics are only applied to the area of surgery, so the patient is alert and awake, but does not have sensation in the area that is to be operated. General anesthesia is not as efficient as local, because it is far more time consuming, and the patients take longer to recover. I was shocked to hear that they completed approximately 30-40 surgeries in a day, and that each surgery only took 2-3 minutes. Before the surgery, the patients were asked a series of questions about their medical health.
The Red Cross that we visited is doing some pretty cutting edge things. Through government funding they have broadly publicized this surgery and encouraged women and men to undergo it. Most women are unaware of how simple and painless this surgery is and are therefore reluctant to do it. With the addition of religious and moral beliefs, most women are hesitant about the surgery. But the Red Cross has managed to inform women about the benefits of this surgery, and now women from all over the country travel here to have this procedure done. The increasing number of tubectomies and vasectomies results in one thing: population control, which is something that India is in dire need of.
So after I got all the facts on the surgery, I met the surgeon. He was so friendly and compassionate that I was immediately excited to watch him do the surgery. I got geared up in my mask and hair net and chapals, and looking like a legitimate surgeon, I was finally prepared for the surgeries.
It was breath taking to watch the doctor perform these surgeries. The skill and efficiency he demonstrated were flawless and he was able to do about five surgeries in twenty minutes. It truly was unbelievable and I was so happy to be a part of it. While the doctor was operating he explained every little detail to me, and I got so much out of this experience. Here are some of the pictures. But the squeamish should proceed with caution, as these photographs are a bit gory!
After the surgeries were over we gave some of the ladies Sarees and other goodies! They were so relieved that the surgery was complete and so excited to get gifts!
After I completed my volunteering at Sweekar, Ammama took me to the Red Cross Family care hospital. This hospital is funded by the national and state government, and specializes in Tubectomies and Vasectomies (which are surgeries that prevent a woman from having a child). I was informed that I would actually get to witness this procedure being done on a few woman, and was so excited to actually see a doctor operate. Before the surgery, I got some information on the procedure, so that I would be able to fully understand the surgery while it was occurring.
There are two procedures to complete the Tubectomy for women. The first one is Lapriscopic and the second is Mini Lapriscopic. In the first surgery the doctor makes two small incisions a couple inches apart, and then sends electricity through the incisions in order to cut or tie off the tubes. If the tubes are cut, then the woman can never have children again, but if they are tied off, it is only temporary. At the Red Cross, local anestethic was given to the patients, which means that anesthetics are only applied to the area of surgery, so the patient is alert and awake, but does not have sensation in the area that is to be operated. General anesthesia is not as efficient as local, because it is far more time consuming, and the patients take longer to recover. I was shocked to hear that they completed approximately 30-40 surgeries in a day, and that each surgery only took 2-3 minutes. Before the surgery, the patients were asked a series of questions about their medical health.
The Red Cross that we visited is doing some pretty cutting edge things. Through government funding they have broadly publicized this surgery and encouraged women and men to undergo it. Most women are unaware of how simple and painless this surgery is and are therefore reluctant to do it. With the addition of religious and moral beliefs, most women are hesitant about the surgery. But the Red Cross has managed to inform women about the benefits of this surgery, and now women from all over the country travel here to have this procedure done. The increasing number of tubectomies and vasectomies results in one thing: population control, which is something that India is in dire need of.
So after I got all the facts on the surgery, I met the surgeon. He was so friendly and compassionate that I was immediately excited to watch him do the surgery. I got geared up in my mask and hair net and chapals, and looking like a legitimate surgeon, I was finally prepared for the surgeries.
It was breath taking to watch the doctor perform these surgeries. The skill and efficiency he demonstrated were flawless and he was able to do about five surgeries in twenty minutes. It truly was unbelievable and I was so happy to be a part of it. While the doctor was operating he explained every little detail to me, and I got so much out of this experience. Here are some of the pictures. But the squeamish should proceed with caution, as these photographs are a bit gory!
After the surgeries were over we gave some of the ladies Sarees and other goodies! They were so relieved that the surgery was complete and so excited to get gifts!
Certificates
These are the certificates/recommendation letters for the community service project in the slums and the tour of the cancer institute. Svecha has written and signed these and given me the certificates. They will hopefully help me immensely with my college applications and resumes.
This is to validate that Chandini Reddi volunteered at the Svecha Community Service visit to the slums on Sunday July 4, 2010 in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh India. She was very involved in the one-hour program and interacted with all of the children through a variety of games and activities. She was excellent with the children, and they were all very affectionate and loving towards her. She went out of her way to ensure that she met and interacted with every one of the children. It was apparent that this experience was something she thoroughly enjoyed. She was humbled by the circumstances and environment she observed in the slums and emerged from the experience with a new found perspective and sense of satisfaction. The love and care she demonstrated towards the children was evident as they were pleading with her not to leave, and asking her to return to see them. Overall, she gained a lot from the experience and the compassion and love she showed towards the children was greatly appreciated.
TO WHOMSOVER IT MAY CONCERN
This is to validate that Chandini Reddi volunteered at the Svecha Community Service visit to the slums on Sunday July 4, 2010 in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh India. She was very involved in the one-hour program and interacted with all of the children through a variety of games and activities. She was excellent with the children, and they were all very affectionate and loving towards her. She went out of her way to ensure that she met and interacted with every one of the children. It was apparent that this experience was something she thoroughly enjoyed. She was humbled by the circumstances and environment she observed in the slums and emerged from the experience with a new found perspective and sense of satisfaction. The love and care she demonstrated towards the children was evident as they were pleading with her not to leave, and asking her to return to see them. Overall, she gained a lot from the experience and the compassion and love she showed towards the children was greatly appreciated.
TO WHOMSOVER IT MAY CONCERN
This is to validate that Chandini Reddi visited the Nandamuri Tharakarama Indo-American cancer institute on July 7, 2010 in
Child Developmental Center
The next department that I visited at Sweekar was the CDC (Child Developmental Center). This department is where behavioral therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, ADHD and Autism therapy, occur for children. In this department, I was able to get information on a variety of different cases, as well as interact with the children. Again, the staff here was helpful and informative. I garnered so much information on each patient because of their help and was really interested to learn more about the patients in this department.
One of my favorite cases here was Teja. He is two years old, and suffers from developmental delay with mild features of Autism. He was such a loving and affectionate boy. And it was obvious that he had no qualms about strangers, as he jumped into my arms with a huge grin on his face. The doctor had him play a couple of games. I noticed that Teja was very hyperactive and distracted easily. But when he did focus he was able to accomplish the tasks. Another thing I was interested in was the fact that he used both his left and right hand comfortably when he was completing the tasks. Maybe he's ambidextrous! I have stressed the importance of this again and again, but Teja's disorder was detected early. The parents were extremely smart to bring him to a doctor, because his chances of improving and returning to normalcy are much higher.
One of my favorite cases here was Teja. He is two years old, and suffers from developmental delay with mild features of Autism. He was such a loving and affectionate boy. And it was obvious that he had no qualms about strangers, as he jumped into my arms with a huge grin on his face. The doctor had him play a couple of games. I noticed that Teja was very hyperactive and distracted easily. But when he did focus he was able to accomplish the tasks. Another thing I was interested in was the fact that he used both his left and right hand comfortably when he was completing the tasks. Maybe he's ambidextrous! I have stressed the importance of this again and again, but Teja's disorder was detected early. The parents were extremely smart to bring him to a doctor, because his chances of improving and returning to normalcy are much higher.
Nandamuri Tharakarama Indo-American Cancer Institute
Subsequent to my final morning in the Physiotherapy department, Ammama and Arvind had so graciously coordinated a visit to the Nandamuri Tharakarama Indo-American cancer institute.
The English sign!
And the Telegu sign.
Cancer is something I have always been extremely fascinated with. The fact that it is a disease that can occur in anyone without warning is really scary, especially when the cause and cure are unknown. So when I heard we had the opportunity to visit this institute I was thrilled to learn more about this mysterious illness. This institute was built by NT Ramarao (A famous film actor) who became the chief minister of Andra Pradesh.
The statue of NT Ramarao and his wife outside of the Hospital. They have done such a quintessential thing by building this hosptial. So many people are helped every day and a lot of valuable reserach is conducted in this institute.
Arvind and I standing by the statue. A big thanks to Arvind for organizing this event as well as the Svecha community service visit to the slums. They were both wonderful opportunities that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The first thing we saw when we entered the institute were two buses. Arvind informed us that these buses traveled to the villages and poor areas in order to test people for cancer. Raising awareness of cancer and detecting it early is so essential to the treatment process. Providing these cancer tests to people in villages who are not aware that a disease like cancer even exists is so wonderful. The staff travels on one of the buses and on the other bus, there is a variety of medical instruments to test for cancer. So essentially, all of the testing can be done on the bus!
These are some shots of the high tech buses used by the institute.
We entered the institute and I was immediately overwhelmed by the thousands of people crammed together in the waiting room. Every seat was filled and I was once again shocked by this apparent cultural difference: there are infinitely more patients that require treatment in India than in America. We met with one of staff members of the institute and she offered to give us a tour. The tour she provided for us was extremely extensive and informative. Our first stop was the area where the scans are done. We got to witness a live video of someone undergoing a scan to see if there are any malignant tumors.
Our next stop was the Computer Systems room. This room was so interesting. A series of doctors sit at computers and analyze the photographs taken by the scans. They are able to examine the patients full body and detect which regions are cancerous. And here I learned something new about the treatment process for cancer. There are two types of cancer treatment: Chemotherapy: which is radiation that is sent through your whole body, and IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy) which is radiation that occurs in a localized area where the tumor is located. If doctors detect the cancer early in a patient, and it has not yet spread they can use IMRT. But if the cancer is detected too late, and has spread, then the patient must undergo chemotherapy, which is far more harmful to the body with very severe side affects.
A picture of some of the images the doctors in the Computer Systems room were examining.
After the Computer Systems room, we had the opportunity to actually meet with and interact with some of the Chemotherapy patients. The wards were separated for men and women and children. Each ward is also separated by socioeconomic levels. There was even a ward that provided free treatment for patients. This treatment is paid for by the government. The scans and technology used for cancer is so expensive and with most of the patients lacking health insurance this free treatment is so important to them. It was disheartening to see all these patients had to go through. The doctor who gave us the tour described to us in detail the various side affects of Chemotherapy, and it really is tragic that these patients must deal with such difficulties every day. However, most of them manage to stay optimistic and hopeful. And again, this experience made me appreciate my life more. The fact that I am healthy truly is a blessing, and it put my life and the small things I take for granted in perspective.
After we visited with the patients we got a tour of the lab and I had the opportunity to actually see the tumors. This was so fascinating. The fact that a malignant tumor can cause so much harm and damage to someone is so terrifying.
This visit to the Cancer Institute is something I am so thankful Ammama (my grandmother) and Arvind (a family friend) coordinated. The faces of the patients who underwent chemotherapy will always be with me, and will always be a reminder of how fortunate I really am. This visit made me grateful for all the things I have been blessed with; all the things that seem so simple but that really are everything.I know that the knowledge and information I gained here will make me a better and more well-rounded person. And this institute has inspired me to create something like this some day. It has inspired me to take a stand and help people who are suffering.
The English sign!
And the Telegu sign.
Cancer is something I have always been extremely fascinated with. The fact that it is a disease that can occur in anyone without warning is really scary, especially when the cause and cure are unknown. So when I heard we had the opportunity to visit this institute I was thrilled to learn more about this mysterious illness. This institute was built by NT Ramarao (A famous film actor) who became the chief minister of Andra Pradesh.
The statue of NT Ramarao and his wife outside of the Hospital. They have done such a quintessential thing by building this hosptial. So many people are helped every day and a lot of valuable reserach is conducted in this institute.
Arvind and I standing by the statue. A big thanks to Arvind for organizing this event as well as the Svecha community service visit to the slums. They were both wonderful opportunities that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The first thing we saw when we entered the institute were two buses. Arvind informed us that these buses traveled to the villages and poor areas in order to test people for cancer. Raising awareness of cancer and detecting it early is so essential to the treatment process. Providing these cancer tests to people in villages who are not aware that a disease like cancer even exists is so wonderful. The staff travels on one of the buses and on the other bus, there is a variety of medical instruments to test for cancer. So essentially, all of the testing can be done on the bus!
These are some shots of the high tech buses used by the institute.
We entered the institute and I was immediately overwhelmed by the thousands of people crammed together in the waiting room. Every seat was filled and I was once again shocked by this apparent cultural difference: there are infinitely more patients that require treatment in India than in America. We met with one of staff members of the institute and she offered to give us a tour. The tour she provided for us was extremely extensive and informative. Our first stop was the area where the scans are done. We got to witness a live video of someone undergoing a scan to see if there are any malignant tumors.
Our next stop was the Computer Systems room. This room was so interesting. A series of doctors sit at computers and analyze the photographs taken by the scans. They are able to examine the patients full body and detect which regions are cancerous. And here I learned something new about the treatment process for cancer. There are two types of cancer treatment: Chemotherapy: which is radiation that is sent through your whole body, and IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy) which is radiation that occurs in a localized area where the tumor is located. If doctors detect the cancer early in a patient, and it has not yet spread they can use IMRT. But if the cancer is detected too late, and has spread, then the patient must undergo chemotherapy, which is far more harmful to the body with very severe side affects.
A picture of some of the images the doctors in the Computer Systems room were examining.
After the Computer Systems room, we had the opportunity to actually meet with and interact with some of the Chemotherapy patients. The wards were separated for men and women and children. Each ward is also separated by socioeconomic levels. There was even a ward that provided free treatment for patients. This treatment is paid for by the government. The scans and technology used for cancer is so expensive and with most of the patients lacking health insurance this free treatment is so important to them. It was disheartening to see all these patients had to go through. The doctor who gave us the tour described to us in detail the various side affects of Chemotherapy, and it really is tragic that these patients must deal with such difficulties every day. However, most of them manage to stay optimistic and hopeful. And again, this experience made me appreciate my life more. The fact that I am healthy truly is a blessing, and it put my life and the small things I take for granted in perspective.
After we visited with the patients we got a tour of the lab and I had the opportunity to actually see the tumors. This was so fascinating. The fact that a malignant tumor can cause so much harm and damage to someone is so terrifying.
This visit to the Cancer Institute is something I am so thankful Ammama (my grandmother) and Arvind (a family friend) coordinated. The faces of the patients who underwent chemotherapy will always be with me, and will always be a reminder of how fortunate I really am. This visit made me grateful for all the things I have been blessed with; all the things that seem so simple but that really are everything.I know that the knowledge and information I gained here will make me a better and more well-rounded person. And this institute has inspired me to create something like this some day. It has inspired me to take a stand and help people who are suffering.
Physiotherapy
The beginning of this week was spent in the Physiotherapy department of Sweekar. The staff there was so gregarious and knowledgeable. They did everything they possibly could to make sure I had the most enriching and informative experience in that department, and they definitely succeeded. I took a lot of pictures of the machines as well as the patients and here they are!
This is the electrical stimulator. It is used on patients who have Bells Palsy. Bells Palsy is when you are not able to move half of your face. This machine sends an electrical current through the patient's face that stimulates the muscle and nerves and allows them to move. Bells Palsy is caused by exposure to extreme cold and ear infections. After the electric treatment is complete. The doctors do the AEIOU test, in which they ask the patients to say these letters to stimulate the muscles in their mouth. They also ask the patients to raise their eyebrows, in order to detect improvement. Like most of the cases in physiotherapy, improvement is visible after some time.
This is the finger ladder. Patients put their fingers on this ladder and slowly work their way up the ladder. This enhances the shoulder muscles as the patient must stretch to reach the top of the ladder.
The shoulder wheel. Patients put their hands on this and rotate it, which stimulates and strengthens their shoulders.
Patients put their hands on the pegs and push and pull them. This machine enhances arm strength and stretches the muscles.
Patients with cerebral palsy or paralysis mainly use this. This allows them to walk in a straight line. There is also a mirror at the end so they can watch and correct themselves while walking.
The different splints used to correct injuries.
A treadmill, trampoline, and some stationary bikes.
This is the SWD (Short Wave Diathermy Machine). It is basically a heating pad, and the intensity of the heat can be changed. The heat penetrates into the deep muscle tissue and relaxes and relieves the pain in different areas.
This is the Ultra Sound machine. I was surprised to see that there was an Ultra sound in Physiotherapy because they are commonly used for pregnancies and babies. But apparently, the gel and ultrasound also soothes muscles. I saw a variety of patients using this technique on their back, ankles, and shoulders.
This is the TENS (Trans Cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator). It pinpoints small areas and provides relief from muscle pain. There is a pad placed on the affected area, and electricity is sent through the pain in the form of an X. The center of the X (the damaged area) receives all of the electricity and this electricity removes the lactic acid and other fluids that cause the pain. These fluids then leave the body through the lymph nodes.
I was able to obtain exposure to so many different disorders during my time in Physiotherapy because there were so many patients. I was there for a two hour span and saw approximately 30-40 patients. It was so chaotic and busy but I felt so lucky and happy to be able to see so many different people. Here are a few of the cases I had the opportunity to see
1.)Periodical Shoulder Disease. This is basically inflammation of the shoulder joints. The doctor stretches the shoulder out while patient shows visible signs of pain. However, these stretching exercises do help in the long run as most patients regained the strength in their shoulders and also felt a relief from the pain.
2.)Lower Knee Weakness- Weakness in the knee joints. The doctor pushes the knee back and pulls it forward several times to ease the pain. He also moves the knees in a circular motion and does a variety of different stretches to help relieve the pain.
3.)Radial Palsy-Unable to raise wrists and fingers. Pads are placed on the upper arm and wrist and electricity is sent down the arm in order to stimulate the wrist and fingers. Slight movement was seen in the wrist and the fingers during the treatment. There are two types of electrical stimulation: Galvonic, which is for specific areas and is the type of treatment used for Bell’s Palsy and SF which is used for larger areas in cases like back aches and Radial Palsy.
Overall, my time spent in the Physiotherapy department was so interesting. I learned a lot about different physical disabilities and the treatment used. It was wonderful to interact with the doctors and patients and it really was a great experience.
This is the electrical stimulator. It is used on patients who have Bells Palsy. Bells Palsy is when you are not able to move half of your face. This machine sends an electrical current through the patient's face that stimulates the muscle and nerves and allows them to move. Bells Palsy is caused by exposure to extreme cold and ear infections. After the electric treatment is complete. The doctors do the AEIOU test, in which they ask the patients to say these letters to stimulate the muscles in their mouth. They also ask the patients to raise their eyebrows, in order to detect improvement. Like most of the cases in physiotherapy, improvement is visible after some time.
This is the finger ladder. Patients put their fingers on this ladder and slowly work their way up the ladder. This enhances the shoulder muscles as the patient must stretch to reach the top of the ladder.
The shoulder wheel. Patients put their hands on this and rotate it, which stimulates and strengthens their shoulders.
Patients put their hands on the pegs and push and pull them. This machine enhances arm strength and stretches the muscles.
Patients with cerebral palsy or paralysis mainly use this. This allows them to walk in a straight line. There is also a mirror at the end so they can watch and correct themselves while walking.
The different splints used to correct injuries.
A treadmill, trampoline, and some stationary bikes.
This is the SWD (Short Wave Diathermy Machine). It is basically a heating pad, and the intensity of the heat can be changed. The heat penetrates into the deep muscle tissue and relaxes and relieves the pain in different areas.
This is the Ultra Sound machine. I was surprised to see that there was an Ultra sound in Physiotherapy because they are commonly used for pregnancies and babies. But apparently, the gel and ultrasound also soothes muscles. I saw a variety of patients using this technique on their back, ankles, and shoulders.
This is the TENS (Trans Cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator). It pinpoints small areas and provides relief from muscle pain. There is a pad placed on the affected area, and electricity is sent through the pain in the form of an X. The center of the X (the damaged area) receives all of the electricity and this electricity removes the lactic acid and other fluids that cause the pain. These fluids then leave the body through the lymph nodes.
I was able to obtain exposure to so many different disorders during my time in Physiotherapy because there were so many patients. I was there for a two hour span and saw approximately 30-40 patients. It was so chaotic and busy but I felt so lucky and happy to be able to see so many different people. Here are a few of the cases I had the opportunity to see
1.)Periodical Shoulder Disease. This is basically inflammation of the shoulder joints. The doctor stretches the shoulder out while patient shows visible signs of pain. However, these stretching exercises do help in the long run as most patients regained the strength in their shoulders and also felt a relief from the pain.
2.)Lower Knee Weakness- Weakness in the knee joints. The doctor pushes the knee back and pulls it forward several times to ease the pain. He also moves the knees in a circular motion and does a variety of different stretches to help relieve the pain.
3.)Radial Palsy-Unable to raise wrists and fingers. Pads are placed on the upper arm and wrist and electricity is sent down the arm in order to stimulate the wrist and fingers. Slight movement was seen in the wrist and the fingers during the treatment. There are two types of electrical stimulation: Galvonic, which is for specific areas and is the type of treatment used for Bell’s Palsy and SF which is used for larger areas in cases like back aches and Radial Palsy.
Overall, my time spent in the Physiotherapy department was so interesting. I learned a lot about different physical disabilities and the treatment used. It was wonderful to interact with the doctors and patients and it really was a great experience.
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