Rising Star: Day 1

We were able to arrive at Rising Star a day earlier than the rest of this session's volunteers, so Patrick and I went out on Medical Duty with our very own medical expert, Miss Amanda Cowan.


Not surprisingly, Amanda was snatched up by the medical team during her first week at Rising Star, and has since gone out with them every day of her 5 week stint.

We traveled to a relatively small colony of leprosy-afflicted people (calling them lepers is a serious insult, because they are people not a disease, so we stay away from that name) and were immediately put to work.

It is incredible to see how efficient and well-organized this small group is. They have become quite the well oiled machine under the direction of Dr. Susan, an incredible doctor who quit her glamorous career in Delhi to help serve those in need out here in rural India.
































There are five stations at the leprosy clinics -

First - blood pressure and pulse is taken and recorded, then they are assessed by Dr. Susan

Second - sent to the "pharmacist" for replacement bandages and medications

Third/Fourth - they are sent to the foot washing station (where Patrick and I spent the majority of our day) where their bandages are removed, ulcers are documented, feet/hands are washed and sores are rubbed with Neem oil (a special vegetable oil that helps soften the calluses around open wounds and also serves as an insecticide to prevent ants and rats from eating at their wounds (leprosy affects your nervous system so that you have no feeling in your extremeties, often meaning you don't notice any bites or bugs until it is too late)

Fifth - They are sent to see Navamani, the nurse, who cleans the wounds and wraps them in cotton.

It's an emotional experience, that's for sure. These people are so crippled and are in such pain, and yet they are smiling and hugging and chatting with you. They are so grateful for the help they are receiving, and it makes me want to do so much more. I wish they were able to have their sores healed completely, to have their fingers and toes grow back, so that they could regain their standing in society.

I am so grateful that I was able to be exposed to this and help. Just wish there was something more we could give.

After returning from the colony, the rest of the volunteers arrived, we had orientation, and got to meet our "families" during playtime.

A group of volunteers are assigned to a group of children (who are all living at Rising Star under the supervision of a house mother) to play with and visit with each night.

I'm totally biased but I have the cutest family ever. I'm so lucky that I get to be in the same family as Amanda and it is really fun to sound time with her and the darling girls each night. We read, play hand games, sing songs, chat and get to know the girls better.

We finish up the day with dinner (which is super hard for me since it's vegetarian Indian food, both of which I dont love) and more time our family.

The days fly by here. I can't figure out where the time goes but I am EXHAUSTED each night and excited to wake up each morning!