With the joy of seeing smiles and happiness as men forever leave Kalighat for their homes comes the sadness of seeing those who never make it "home" but instead pass into a new life beyond.
Kalighat is a home for the extremely sick men and women of Kolkata. Many believe that Kalighat is a home strictly for those who are dying, men who will not survive. However this is not the truth, as Kalighat also takes in men with disease or diabetes, who need surgery and compassion before hopefully again being sent home. Half of the men at Kalighat will probably make it home, and the goal is to send everyone back to their families, although this is not the case. Many of the men at Kalighat are dying, but in a different way then us Americans see it. Three of the men at Kalighat have Parkinson's. They are able to move around a bit, and aren't in the act of dying, but need care and love, knowing that one day they will die. Two of the men have Cerebral Palsy. Imagine a man with CP on the streets, unable to move, wash, or change himself. That is why he is in Kalighat. Some of the men have diabetes, or are amputees, and hopefully will get medications and surgery and be on their way.
But some of the men will be there forever, guys who can no longer speak, or forget where they live. Some men have ALS, some have cancer, others are in pain, but un-diagnosed. All are mal-nourished. Some of the men have TB. The diseases are endless, as is the love.
After being at Kalighat for 3 weeks, I am lucky enough to get to see the happy stories. Since I have been there, 2 men have gone home, and 3 others are moving home this week. One man got into a fight with his wife, before storming out and becoming extremely ill living in the streets. He was un-able to make it home, or to communicate where he lived. After 7 months of living at Kalighat, a familiar face walked through the door; his wife. She had been looking for him all over the streets of Kolkata for months, unable to find him. Tears where shed, and another man made his way home. Another man who broke his femur and ankle in a construction accident heads home tomorrow!
But for most of the men at Kalighat who are extremely sick, life will end in a cot on the floor. This week, two men especially began the downward spiral of death. They first lost the ability to move around, stricken to their cots. Next, they lost the ability to hold their urine, and excrement. They lost their ability to eat, and their will to live. Seeing one of the men being given a feeding tube, I knew his time was near. I spent all of yesterday with him, rubbing his hand, praying, and singing. I heard the horrible sound of death rattles in his lungs, and new God was calling him home. Packing up for the day, I bent over and told him God was watching over him and protecting him.
He passed away yesterday afternoon, surrounded by the brothers and sisters who he called family. I hope that in the last few hours of his life, he found some peace. Knowing he was not alone, and that people still cared about him. He was loved till the moment he passed on, and still is.
Namaste,
Moe
Kalighat is a home for the extremely sick men and women of Kolkata. Many believe that Kalighat is a home strictly for those who are dying, men who will not survive. However this is not the truth, as Kalighat also takes in men with disease or diabetes, who need surgery and compassion before hopefully again being sent home. Half of the men at Kalighat will probably make it home, and the goal is to send everyone back to their families, although this is not the case. Many of the men at Kalighat are dying, but in a different way then us Americans see it. Three of the men at Kalighat have Parkinson's. They are able to move around a bit, and aren't in the act of dying, but need care and love, knowing that one day they will die. Two of the men have Cerebral Palsy. Imagine a man with CP on the streets, unable to move, wash, or change himself. That is why he is in Kalighat. Some of the men have diabetes, or are amputees, and hopefully will get medications and surgery and be on their way.
But some of the men will be there forever, guys who can no longer speak, or forget where they live. Some men have ALS, some have cancer, others are in pain, but un-diagnosed. All are mal-nourished. Some of the men have TB. The diseases are endless, as is the love.
After being at Kalighat for 3 weeks, I am lucky enough to get to see the happy stories. Since I have been there, 2 men have gone home, and 3 others are moving home this week. One man got into a fight with his wife, before storming out and becoming extremely ill living in the streets. He was un-able to make it home, or to communicate where he lived. After 7 months of living at Kalighat, a familiar face walked through the door; his wife. She had been looking for him all over the streets of Kolkata for months, unable to find him. Tears where shed, and another man made his way home. Another man who broke his femur and ankle in a construction accident heads home tomorrow!
But for most of the men at Kalighat who are extremely sick, life will end in a cot on the floor. This week, two men especially began the downward spiral of death. They first lost the ability to move around, stricken to their cots. Next, they lost the ability to hold their urine, and excrement. They lost their ability to eat, and their will to live. Seeing one of the men being given a feeding tube, I knew his time was near. I spent all of yesterday with him, rubbing his hand, praying, and singing. I heard the horrible sound of death rattles in his lungs, and new God was calling him home. Packing up for the day, I bent over and told him God was watching over him and protecting him.
He passed away yesterday afternoon, surrounded by the brothers and sisters who he called family. I hope that in the last few hours of his life, he found some peace. Knowing he was not alone, and that people still cared about him. He was loved till the moment he passed on, and still is.
Namaste,
Moe
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