Leprosy, Limbs and Lost

Yesterday we met with Lepra - a foundation that works with people who have leprosy, HIV/AIDS, and TB.

They were very kind to us...providing water, soda, and cookies in an air conditioned room (seriously the best feeling in the world).

Then they drove us to one of their clinics. I just thought this bumper sticker was funny since people never stop honking here- they must take it pretty seriously.

At the clinic we met with a doctor who explained exactly how leprosy and TB patients suffer.

We were even able to meet some of the patients who were responding well to treatment.

By responding well I mean they weren't getting worse...they were still emancipated and in pain but they were grateful for the treatment they were receiving.

They showed us what a positive TB test looks like...

They make shoes in a separate building for people with leprosy who can't feel their hands or feet. 

When they can't feel their limbs they often do things that would create a cut or burn. Eventually this becomes infected, turns into an ulcer and infects the bones. 

I'll spare you a lot of the details of what I saw yesterday, but I met a few women with leprosy. One had   it so bad in her fingers that they had shriveled up into her palms and became useless. 

Three of her toes had done the same thing.

I know that is relatively graphic...but it's rare in life to see someone in so much intense pain.

After that we visited another center where they do research on these diseases.

It's amazing the kind of work they are doing to help prevent and treat these diseases here. 

The doctors we spoke to were so excited about their work.

It impressed me that they were so willing to change as well. Every other sentence that came out of their mouths was asking about what we saw that they could improve on and make better. 

We have little to zero knowledge about the research they are doing, so helping was really out of the picture...but they were so humble about the groundbreaking things they were doing- only wishing to take advice and make their work more effective.

These are just a few pictures from our ride home.

Don't worry..the food is perfectly sanitary...I think..

We counted no less than twelve people in this auto. It normally fits 3 comfortably and only 2 on a hot day.

Today I have very few pictures. We did research for a BYU project in the USA wanting to bring affordable prosthetic limbs to people here.

We split into groups to go out on visits.

Lets just say my group (consisting of me and another girl- Melanie) was not strictly speaking successful.

We were:

1. Ripped off TWICE by the auto drivers. (This isn't saying much...we basically paid an extra $1- but when it's about 50 rupees it feels like more)

2. Cat called, pointed at, stared at, and laughed at (We didn't do anything really to warrent this- we simply just stand out like sore thumbs- Melanie says I'm the Taylor Swift of India- there is just no hiding the curly blonde hair and blue eyes. Melanie also says she is lucky- being asian she kinda blends in more)

3. Told to cross a dangerous road 4 times because each person we asked SWORE the place we were looking for was "over there" with a vague point in the opposite direction we just came from

I think I told you about the vague point.

They will tell where anything is when asked. Only problem is...they don't actually know where it is...they just vaguely point.

4. Almost chocked to death from the rotting garbage and feces smells on the roads

5. Almost dead from heat exhaustion at the end of the afternoon after walking blocks in 104 degree heat  and NEVER finding the place.

The other groups were more successful and we made it home all right.

I lived to tell the tale...and hey-

it's all part of the experience...right?

Love,

A