June 2015 Health Calendar--Part 2

June 2015 Health Calendar

Part 2

(photo credit:  holidays-and-ib

Let's take a moment to see if we are up-to-date on more health issues emphasized 
this June because Health IS Wealth!

June is Men's Health Month

(U.S.A.)

(photo credit:  modernlifeblogs.com)

We think all men (women too of course!) everywhere should be paying attention to their health.

This is not just nice saying...

(photo credit:  southeastbusiness.com)

It's true!

Here's a great newsletter about men's health from United Health Care:

https://www.uhctools.com/assets/prebuilt_2014_mens_health.pdf

Ladies, if your hubby won't read it, you can!  

Did you see this important article about cancer screening in the Nepali Times?

(If you missed it, here's your chance to find out what it said!)

http://nepalitimes.com/article/life-times/Testing-screens,95

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

(Australia)

(photo credit:  victoriapointsurgery.com.au)

To read about it, and see a slide show, click here:
http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_cancer/article.htm

This is something you don't want to ignore the symptoms of.
Please come in for a consultation immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.
Yes, it could be embarrassing, but it's also life saving, as early detection is KEY!

Have you checked out the website of the Nepal Cancer Relief Society?
It's full of information.
http://www.ncrs.org.np/

If you haven't seen this Nepal Health Survey from the United Nations,
it's worth at least checking out!
http://un.org.np/data-coll/Health-Publications/2011_NDHS-pre.pdf

Did you see this Gorkha Patra Online article about tomatoes?  It's interesting!
http://trn.gorkhapatraonline.com/index.php/72-science-technology/12324-tomatoes-important-in-prostate-cancer-prevention.html

This webmd.com slide show lists cancer fighting foods.
Surely everyone can find something they like here!
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/ss/slideshow-cancer-fighting-foods


(photo credit:  webmd.com)



June 7 was Cancer Survivors Day
Worldwide

If you are a cancer survivor, every day is your day!  However, we want to let you know that we wish you all the best for your future!  Please remember to have your regular check-ups!
No question is too small to ask your doctor!

This website, National Cancer Survivors Day, gives advice about cancer survivor issues.
http://www.ncsd.org/cancer-survivorship-issues

(photo credit:  pinterest.com)

For more information about cancer in Nepal, visit the website of the Cancer Society Nepal.
http://www.cancersocietynepal.org.np/



June 19 was Sickle Cell Day
Worldwide 

Do you know what Sickle Cell Anemia is?


(photo credit:  pinterest.com)

To learn more about it, check out this comprehensive Mayo Clinic article:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/basics/definition/con-20019348

Yes, there are people in Nepal living with Sickle Cell Anemia.
Read about their lives in this Nepali Times article:
http://nepalitimes.com/article/nation/Life-%20with-sickle-cell,1460

and also this My Republica article:
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=76192

As usual, please come in for a consultation if you have questions about any health issue.

Before we say Goodbye for today, we must say

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

to all of our supporters!  We are able to help those in need because of you!

Stay tuned for more news!

June 2015 Health Calendar--Part 1

May 2015 Health Calendar

Part 1

(Let's take a moment and reflect on our fellow humans who are deaf, blind,  
or both deaf and blind.  It's hard to imagine, isn't it?)

June 24 - 30, 2015 

Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

Worldwide

(photo credit:  weheartit.com)

Do you know who Helen Keller was?  If not, check out this biography:
It includes some videos.
http://www.biography.com/people/helen-keller-9361967



(photo credit:  izquotes.com)


This article explains a little bit of why it's important to raise awareness of not only
the deaf and blind communities, but also the deaf-blind community.
https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/health-awareness/helen-keller-deaf-blind-awareness-week.html

Here's an important quote from that article:

Objectives of Helen-Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

This important event is a great opportunity to drive huge public awareness of the issues that deaf-blind individuals face each day and how to help them communicate with the world, as well as live a happy life. As deafblindedness is a visual and hearing impairment, people born with it or suffered from it due to an illness, have special needs that many people are not aware of or do not fully understand.           (credit:  consumerhealthdigest.com)

(photo credit:  quopic.com)


Here's another interesting biography.  If you have a blind friend or relative,
he/she will be able to listen to the story.
http://spotlightenglish.com/listen/the-amazing-life-of-helen-keller



(photo credit:  hdimagegallery.net)


Do you have any idea of the percentages of Nepal's disability populations?
If not, check this out from the United Nations.  Yes, it's from 2011, but it's sure to be similar today.
http://un.org.np/sites/default/files/Disability-2011.pdf


(photo credit:  quote-coyote.com)


Yes, there are programs here in Nepal for disabled students!
http://www.nepalyouthfoundation.org/programs/disabled-students/
http://www.nawbnepal.org.np/events/



(photo credit:  quote-coyote.com)


This is an interesting Nepali Times article about a school with classes for the blind.
http://nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=18615#.VY0ndflVikp



(photo credit:  quoteswave.com)


This article, by Jaya Prasad Lamsal, explains many issues surrounding children
with visual impairment in Nepal.
http://nepaknol.net/cdc/dl/filestore/3/6/7_8131bace974a563/367_485b8cc1dcc1ac9.pdf



(photo credit:  pinterest.com)


Here's an explanation of the National Deaf Federation Nepal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Deaf_Federation_Nepal



(photo credit:  cuotez.com)


Let us not forget these precious people who live life with these handicaps.
We cannot even imagine what they deal with on a daily basis.



(photo credit:  cityofthebrave.com)


The Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind has a comprehensive website
They have events, training, and even a job opening right now.
http://www.nawbnepal.org.np/events/



(photo credit:  quotess.in)


The National Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Nepal's website
lets you know about their mission and goals.
http://nadhnepal.weebly.com/index.html



(photo credit:  pinterest.com)


If anyone you know is having ear or eye problems, please bring them in for a consultation.

Enjoy what you see and hear and have a blessed day!  

Earthquake--Part 12: Help me!

Earthquake--Part 12:  Help me!

Hello and thanks for visiting our news blog.

Thanks to all of you who have been supporting us through prayers and also donations.

You will never know how much your support is appreciated and needed.

It's now six weeks post-earthquake, and we still have about 20 earthquake victim patients.  Yes, they are healing, but for those still here, the process is a slow hard road.

They are all beautiful and brave and we cheer at each step forward!

We salute their family members who stay by their sides, and no matter how they're feeling,

always show a strong face.

This sweet little sweetheart, Soniya, age 8, seen here with her mother Sunita, 

is one of our now long-term patients.

That picture was taken a few weeks ago.  This picture was taken very recently!

Look at that beautiful smile!  She's almost ready to go home!

However, she has no home to go to.

Like many people in Nepal, her house was destroyed during the April 25 quake.

Perhaps you have heard of Sindhupalchowk.

This is where Soniya is from.

If you saw our previous guest post by Dr. Angela Basnet

about her trip to Sindhupalchowk, you will know how devastated the area is.

(If you missed the post, click here.)

These pictures are from that post.  (Thanks for the photos Dr. Angela.)

This Huffington Post article by Amrit Sharma (Thanks!) has pictures of the area and even a video:
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/amrit-sharma/humans-of-sindupalchowk_b_7244422.html

For Soniya, her family, and in fact, everyone in Nepal, April 25, 2015,
started out as any other Saturday.

Many people were outside, which was a blessing.  The grown-ups were working and the children were playing.  Soniya had gotten her hands dirty while playing, and being a child who likes to stay clean, she ran inside to wash her hands.

Suddenly there was a loud noise and the earth and everything in sight started intensely shaking and rolling.  The buildings started collapsing.  Disbelief and realization set in.  People scrambled and shouted for their loved ones even as they tried to run to them as the earth rolled beneath their feet and dust rose into the air as buildings fell.  As Soniya's family gathered together, hugging and tearfully checking for everyone, they noticed that she wasn't there.  OH NO!  Where was she?  How could she not be here?  As they looked at the crumbled house, they didn't allow themselves to think she could be inside.  They started calling her name and asking neighbors if they had seen her.  The neighbors joined in to help look and call her name, even as the earth continued shaking.

Suddenly someone heard a faint cry.  "Help me!"  "WAIT!  I hear something!"  Everyone stopped and listened, yes, even as the earth continued trembling.  There it was again:  "Help me!"  A shout went up!  It was Soniya's voice!  She was alive!  She was alive!  But, oh no!  The beautiful sound of her voice was coming from inside the collapsed house.  Oh no!  Surely it wasn't so, but it was!  There was an animated conversation about how best to get her out.  Neighbors joined in and the men started going over their plans about how to proceed.  It would be a serious, dangerous, but necessary endeavor.  Suddenly her sweet voice shouted out:  "DADDY, STOP TALKING AND GET ME OUT OF HERE!"  

"That's our Sonia!  Of course Sonia darling!  We're coming!"

For two hours, her brave family and neighbors pulled the collapsing bricks out of the way.  Yes, the earth kept rolling with aftershocks and yes, the men's hands became scratched and bloodied, but as she started crying their strength was renewed and they never slowed down.

Finally, finally they made their way to her.  She was completely trapped from the waist down.  By that time, she was barely conscious, but still alive!  "She's alive!" was the cry that went around the whole village!

They wrapped up her bleeding little body and carried her for an hour to the nearest clinic, which had collapsed too and was now a busy outdoor clinic under a tarp.  The clinic workers told them she needed to get to a hospital as soon as humanly possible.

Her uncle, who was known to be an excellent motorcycle driver, immediately volunteered to take her to the nearest taxi stand, which was a 20 minute drive away.  She was tied to her brave uncle's body and he took off.  This was no easy task, because the earth was still trembling and the road, such as it was, was barely passable.  They transferred to a taxi at the taxi stand and the brave driver sped away as fast as he could to get the injured child to the hospital.  It was an hour and 40 minute harrowing drive.  At about 10:00 p.m. she finally arrived at our hospital. 

The next morning she had the first of four surgeries with Dr. Shashinda Bhuju, right, general and urology surgeon, and Dr. Ramon Ruiz Diaz, left, anesthesiologist and pediatric anesthesiologist.

 

Dr. Bhuju explained her injury as a large and severe degloving injury.  What is that?
This Wikipedia article gives a brief explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degloving

Click the blue highlighted word avulsion, and read about skin avulsions to learn more.

Her treatment included the following (articles from Wikipedia):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debridement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_suture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_grafting

Post surgery, still can still manage a smile!

It's been a long hard road, but little Soniya has been up to the task!
After physical therapy, her doctors expect a full recovery.

When Dr. Bhuju asked her what she wanted to do when she would be able to leave the hospital,
she replied, "I want to go to school!"

When schools around the country (those which were able anyway) opened on May 31, 2015,
Dr. Bhuju gave approval for Soniya to attend Esa Memorial School,
the primary school on our campus.

Here she is waving, "Hello!" with her new friends (in the front in a black dress) at school!

What joy!  She can't run yet, but she can participate in many activities
and she will run again all in good time!

She felt good enough to take a walk recently with her mom and Mrs. Susen Mole',
the wife of Dr. Dale Mole', our CEO.

We're all so thankful for her progress and also for the progress of all our patients!
We are blessed to be able to participate in their healing.

We are also blessed by the love, care, and concern we are feeling from around the world.
Please keep praying for Nepal as we are still experiencing aftershocks.

This website has the aftershock updates:
http://www.seismonepal.gov.np/

Thank you and have a nice day!