"Karunashraya" - Abode of Compassion

Karunashraya - Abode of Compassion
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"Namaskara" or "Greetings" from India !!

Having arrived last Sunday, I have now been working at the hospice for nearly a week now and what a week it has been !

It is difficult to explain HOW different things are here...not only from a nursing point of view but also the culture, language & way of life.....but I shall endeavour to bring a bit of India to you all !

The Pond by the wards
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My trip here was excellent, even though I had my doubts about the cheap flight with the well known?! Kingfisher Airlines. The flight, staff and food were outstanding and some of you may have read that apparently kingfisher Airlines were trying to get their staff to lose weight as fuel prices have gone up & they want to lighten their load !!!! Ha !! Unlucky they had me as a passenger !

Anyway, having got here safely (as well as my bags) I got a taxi to Marathahalli & when I arrived at the hospice I was greeted by Sister Ranitt who continued with the fantastic Indian hospitality. I was made to feel so welcome by everyone here & of course the curiosity of me being a foreigner not understanding a single word of Kannada (the local language here) helped to break the ice. I have been given a room with ensuite facilities comprising a loo, sink & bucket, which is actually rather civilised as I also have solar heated warm water...Bonus !! I eat my meals with  Sisters Ranitt, Josemary, Anilla and Maria (all nuns) who are also the nursing staff here and all of whom have taken me under their wing (both professionally & spiritually!!). There are three Doctors, one male (Dr. Sadannand) & 2 female (Drs. Praveena & Reena) as well as 2 counsellors (Nagaretna & Punima) and a few administrative staff & volunteers. Karunashraya truly is a wonderful place.......one patients' husband described it to me as a "piece of heaven" ......& he isn't wrong. It provides personal care, emotional support, respite care, financial and legal planning advice, symptom control, appropriate nutrition, bereavement support and medical supplies and equipment to anyone who is terminally ill with cancer...& all this free of charge!

My "Roomies" Sisters' Florina, Ranitt, Anilla & Maria
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There are 3 shift lines......0730-1230 and 1300-1600, then 0730-1300 and 1600-1900 then there is a night duty from 1900-0730 ! The ward staff comprise 5 General nurses, 8 nursing Auxillaries and about 12 Health Care Assistants, all of whom range from 17 yrs to about 23 yrs. They work 6 days a week doing on average 8 hours a day ! So...not an easy life although they do all "live in"  and have food provided. However, if they want to leave the compound they have to ask permission from the Sisters.....thank goodness.....I don't !!!

and Sister Josemary
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Everyone working here is lovely & I did think it would be a very sombre place...but quite the contrary. The ward rounds with the Drs. are fab ! Eveyone laughs & jokes & it all seems very casual. Obviously seriouness is allowed if necessary !! I feel this is really good for the patients & staff alike, which helps to make it a relaxing place. This in turn leads to a  very calm & peaceful end of life for most of the patients.

The nursing care is outstanding with what little supplies they have. Dressings are improvised with vaseline soaked gauze being placed directly on the wound (some of which are horrendous...but I won't go into that on this site)  with cut up rags to cover the area. Patients hardly ever complain even though they suffer greatly, so it is an extremely humbling experience for me. It is incredible that there is very little infection too.....even though gloves are re-used (they are washed and hung out to dry!) and the nurses hardly ever seem to wash their hands !! They must think I have some kind of OCD or something !!!

some of the counselling & admin staff here
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As for the patients......they are so grateful & humble that it is often so difficult to think about some of the patients that I have had back in the UK. Uncomplaining & with smiles on their faces, they spend their time either in bed, or if able to walk, sitting around the ponds that Karunashraya is built around. I try to go & talk to them..which is often a source of amusement to everyone as I am learning Kannada! However, even though there are several languages spoken here (Kannada, Hindi, tamil and Malierum)  I make myself understood......more or less...well ok...maybe less !!!!!!!!!!!

The main nurses station on Mallige Ward
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The food here is Fantastic, so there is little possibility of losing weight  unfortunately ! The first night they cooked me a western pasta dish, but I told them that I liked Indian food, so have been eating everything that they eat since. I also eat HOW they eat...with their fingers & am getting a dab hand at it now......even my uniform stays clean !!!!!

Ok well.......before the electricity goes off again (a regular occurence here) I shall finish this here. Suffice to say...I am having an amazing experience here & just so wish that you could experience it with me to really know how it is here. Words are sometimes never enough...but they will have to do for now !! Will take some photos soon too!

Sister Ranitt with some of the staff
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"Amaley nordorna"......See you soon xx