Thursday, January 17, 2008

What???

The Indian Institute of Cebreal Palsy.

i had a "clashing of worlds" kinda day yesterday. I have a friend named Jima and her handicap little girl who is 8 named Sila (names changed). I think i wrote before about how Sila's smile could honestly melt the most evil person's heart.

Jima asked me to get her some help for her daughter. i was eventually referred to the Indian institute of cerebral palsy http://www.iicpindia.com/ . They said come in on a Thursday for a free assessment.

So yesterday we went.

i was really dreading it. but i walked in and the institute was clean and organized and people were friendly and asked us "what do you need?" they took her name etc and then ushered us to a room that looked liked it could of been in america.

there about 5 families each sitting on thick physical therapy mats each with a doctor. the doctor was making a plan with the family and showing them excises. so Jima and i sat down with a woman Doctor/Pysical Therapist and she learned exercises to help her daughter. then we got to go see a specialist doctor and he diagnosed Sila with Cerebral Palsy. They told her that her daughter might be able to lift her head and feed herself and that she was really smart.

Jima has to go once a month to this institute. They are going to give her a chair so her daughter can sit right. if jima goes every month for the next 6 months to a year she might be eligible to put her daughter in school. i left this place so hopeful for jima and her daughter because i felt like people for the first time were on her side. they believed that good could happen to Sila. They treated Jima with respect even though they could tell by her address what she did for a living. it was one of the most positive experiences i have ever had at an institute here.


then we made the trek home. when we arrived relived and tired, jima had a customer waiting for her. she insited that i stay and wait so we could eat together. she closed the curtain and worked, i sat on the opposite bed with her owner and the customer's friend. They talked about the "free sex" in america and how everyone has sex with everyone and its no big deal. and asked me about my sex life. and i realized that this gift of sex that i have been waiting since i was 13 to give to my husband, something that is so so precious to me and have been protecting to give away to the man i will marry one day, was given away for 100 rupees in 10 minutes, while i sat on the opposite bed so Jima could feed and take care of her little girl with cerebral palsy and feed her two sons.
after that we ate rice and vegtable curry.


what???? like i said, a clashing of worlds. don't have words to put it all together. sometimes i forget where i work and the reality of it all. have to believe the from brokeness God can make a mosaic. (Josh said that)


I love that sarah and beth's article for the cry. i love playing Frisbee. i love playing badminton in the park here in kolkata. i love that beth and i bought i poster and nepali flag for out friends and its jan. and still have given them to our friends yet. i love that this blog post make me uncomfortable and wonder whether i should of posted it.

3 comments:

April said...

a very intense day. i often wonder what you do with all you see and feel...where does it go in you? i was in kolkata for such a short time 3 years ago and i'm still finding that there is much i haven't processed...i hope you are well! good news about SB! i hope to leave for galati at the end of february...

Mike Rea said...

I for one needed to read this post this morning.

It helps to renew my hope in the mercy of our Papa.

amanda said...

kristin,
i read your post on friday and i found it sticking with me all weekend. of course i can't seem to find any answers either. but, i am thinking of you and of your friend. praying for her to find her freedom again.

love,
amanda