I spent last week in Italy. IIt was quite a change from two weeks in India. All I need is Indonesia and I will have done my Eat, Pray, Love hemophilia pilgrimage. Except I managed to eat in India, pray in Italy…. The rest has yet to be seen!
I spent a few days in Florence before heading slightly north for the real purpose of my trip. Florence is a city I studied intensely as a teen. While other girls were going to dances, I studied the Renaissance and became quite an “expert” at a young age. I copied paintings of the masters, as I loved art, and when I first arrived at age 17, knew more about where to go than our high school guide. So returning for my fourth time, I resolved to wander the streets and churches, revisit the masters, and stand
in awe of the treasures of Italy. Nothing man-made captures my stunned, silent
respect and worship like the statue of David.
On day four I headed to Lucca, to visit a pharmaceutical company called Kedrion. Kedrion came to our attention in the US a few years ago when it was contracted by Grifols to handle distribution of Koate-DVI, a plasma-derived factor VIII product. Originally produced by Bayer, it was divested, along with all the Bayer plasma division, to Talecris. Eventually Talecris was bought by Grifols. But the US government, leery that Grifols now had two plasma derived FVIII products, required Grifols to have a different company handle distribution of Koate-DVI. Enter Kedrion.
Kedrion may be new to the US, but not to Europe. Kedrion is a leading global pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, production and distribution of a wide range of protein products derived from human plasma. The company’s products are used to treat hemophilia, immune deficiencies, infectious diseases and other serious medical conditions in over 60 countries. The company owns four production facilities: two in Italy,
one in Hungary and one in the United States (currently leased to Grifols).
I was thrilled to be offered a tour of the production plant. The plant is nestled among the Tuscany hills in Lucca, an ancient city famed for its fortress-like walls that protect the denizens, once Romans in 180 BC. The scenery—snow capped mountains rolling away to the sea; petite, puffy clouds touching down on factories and churches— is breathtaking from the patio of the Renaissance (how appropriate) hotel, perched on a mountain and once owned by the Marcucci family, which also owns Kedrion.
I had dinner the night before the tour with Paolo Marcucci, CEO of Kedrion, and wife Paola Pardini, whom I have met before and who sponsor 17 children through Save One Life. With us was also Danilo Medica, Italy country manager for Kedrion, who I had also met before at a WFH event. Social events are always lovely with Italians, who know the fine art of socializing, eating and drinking, and offering sincere and mutual respect
and hospitality.
Laurie at Kedrion plant, with Charles Waller
So my purpose in visiting was to see the
plant, and learn more about this newcomer to the US market. Also, Kedrion has
been for a few years now our largest single donor of factor products to
Project SHARE, my factor donation program. We are now collaborating on ways to
secure even more factor to donate to the regions of the world where the 75%
live—those people with hemophilia with little or no access to treatment. Like…
some of the places I had just seen in India.
First, a snapshot: Kedrion was founded by the Marcucci family; current CEO Paolo is son of the founder. It offers technology transfer of plasma collection to Macedonia, Turkey, and Iran, as well as plasma-derived product sales to about 60 countries. It has 15 plasma collection centers (nine of which are in the US). About 95% of its products are plasma derived. Kedrion is one of the few factor manufacturers that is
considered part of a government healthcare system. About 75% of the company is owned by the Marcucci family; 25% is owned by government.
Kedrion experienced enormous growth in the past few years. Its business used to be only in Italy until just 2007; now it’s been global for five years. A dominant 60% of its business is international, part of this switch attributed to production acquisition sites in the US. It has a FV product in the pipeline, even though there are only 5-6 patients with FV deficiency in Italy. Clearly, Kedrion continues to have its eyes set on the world.
And hemophilia in Italy? There are 3,481 hemophilia A patients; 1,688 are severe, 1,320 mild, and 473 moderate. In 2013, FVIII consumption was about 555 million IU, with plasma-derived product use actually increasing, driven by IT therapy for inhibitor patients. Still, recombinant products dominate the hemophilia market, at 66% of sales.
PLANT TOUR
On a frosty Wednesday morning, I removed my jewelry, washed my hands thoroughly, suited up, and entered the plant with my hosts, to tour how plasma products are made. The plant fractionates 1 million liters (about 264,172 gallons) every year, using 24,000 liter tanks. First I watched a film on the plant: how plasma arrives, is checked, monitored and inventoried. How plasma is separated by centrifuge creating cryo paste for fractionation. There are 480 employees in Lucca, and the plant operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It will be closed over Christmas for maintenance and
cleaning. The instruments and suites where products are made are cleaned daily.
On this tour I was able to watch albumin
being made. Albumin is the part of plasma used to bulk-up factor concentrates,
to allow them to be injectible. Alessandro, plant manager and our guide, explained
about different classes assigned to manufacturing suites (A-D), based on sterility
and cleanliness. As each product goes through each manufacturing phase, the
requirements for cleanliness gets more and more complex.
It’s not just that things must be sterile. In the suite, people come and go; there is air, exhalations, and ventilation. The air itself, pressurized like in an
airplane, to push air out if there is a breach, must be monitored constantly. You want a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors. Levels of contamination are specified by the number of particles per cubic meter at a specified particle size. Instruments protruding out of the wall measure constantly the ambient air, and would signal an alarm if the air contained undesirable things in it at a level considered potentially harmful.
We watched as lab employees handled the sterile vials into which the albumin would be placed, all by machine to reduce human contact. The rubber stoppers were placed, and the machines sealed it with
the foil. I learned something new: I always thought the rubber stopper might be at risk to cause a breach of integrity of the vial if the vial got too hot or cold. But Alessandro assured me these stoppers are powerful and not likely to contract or expand with different temperature. It really is about temperature control to keep the protein from degredating and becoming less effective, less powerful.
Speaking of power, the plant must have power at all times. What of there was a black out, someone asked? Kedrion is self-sufficient in power, Alessandro explained. They produce energy themselves
using methane gas production.
Last, we learned about the “KQP”: Kedrion Quality Program, an eight step system, using among other things, regular
qualified donors, NAT testing, pathogen inactivation, and TSE agents, to assure that the products are safe.
The Italian Health System is complex, making me realize we aren’t the only ones with healthcare budgetary woes. With 19 regions that are traditionally independent, 645 public hospitals, 50 HTCs, and an ongoing economic crisis, the federal government is trying to consolidate hospitals, and is asking for additional cost reductions from
industry. And yet Kedrion must continue to fractionate Italian blood and return plasma-derived products back to the various regions.
One concern is that Italy’s not self-sufficient in any product. Consumption is growing faster than production, but consumption includes imported products at much higher per unit prices. In the face of an economic crisis, slashed healthcare budgets, the question is: can Italy use the products it has already to alleviate demand?
So that’s the point of my visit: in April 2013, Italian laws have changed regarding plasma. Previously Italian plasma had to be used by Italians, but now the law allows Italian regions to recover costs
by selling the plasma products to other countries. Or maybe, donating? To India, to Africa? We will see.
The name Kedrion comes from the Greek language for lemon tree (or juniper or citrus, depending on your source). Its symbol represents the deep roots Kedrion has in Italy, where the company was
built on Italian plasma and by a family dynasty, and its branches go out into the air, the world. I’m hoping they continue to branch towards developing countries, to patients waiting to know this unique company and benefit from its products.
The perfect book for reading while in Florence. My hotel was about 200 feet from Santa Maria del Fiore, and when I
stepped into the cobblestone streets each morning, the massive façade, capped by the
astounding dome, greeted me. This book goes into great detail about what it
took to create the 37,000 ton dome, one of the largest cupolas in the world,
completed in 1436. It took 16 years to complete (over 100 for the Cathedral itself!),
and the architectural construction was filled with competition, craftiness and creativity. Brunelleschi
invented all kinds of new ways to transport marble, to hoist the marble. He was
a genius of architecture, and this Dome today still awes and impresses. This
story is compelling, and shows the potential of man to create and persist. Brunelleschi
was foiled many times, faced many obstacles, but finished it, leaving behind
one of the most prominent and important symbols of the Renaissance. A must read
for anyone going to Florence. But a fabulous book on any account. I climbed the
436 stairs to the top and was rewarded with a breathtaking view of Florence, one
of my favorite cities. It boggles the mind how this could have been created, at
such a time, with such vision. You’ll never look at a church steeple or
basilica the same again once you read this. Five/five stars!
I’m in Italy this week on some business, where I am surrounded by Italian heroes, both mythical and real. While here I received notice of some videos you might like to see. These are the latest videos filmed at the US Hemophilia Experiences, Results, and Opportunities (HERO) Summit for Solutions, of which I took part. Some of our top opinion leaders from our community were invited together by Novo Nordisk to brainstorm ways to implement the findings of the HERO study, supported by Novo Nordisk, the largest psychosocial study on hemophilia ever done.Please feel free to view!
The HERO Initiative: Improving Understanding of the Burden of Hemophilia on Families focuses on our discussion in Workshop 2 around how hemophilia can affect the entire family in different ways, including emotionally, financially, and professionally. This video includes the following US HERO Summit participants:
· Mary-Jane Frey, Nurse Coordinator, Children’s Hospital of Michigan
· Chris Guelcher, Nurse Practitioner, Children’s National Medical Center
· Dana Kuhn, PhD, President and Founder, Patient Services, Inc.
· Dawn Rotellini, Director of Chapter Development and Training, National Hemophilia Foundation
· Michelle Witkop, Bleeding Disorders Nurse Practitioner, Northern Regional Bleeding Disorder Center
The HERO Initiative: Working to Understand and Improve Pain Management in Hemophilia focuses on our discussion in Workshop 3 around the impact of pain on the daily lives of people with hemophilia and approaches to better evaluate and manage this common complication. The following US HERO Summit participants appear in this video:
· Mary-Jane Frey, Nurse Coordinator, Children’s Hospital of Michigan
· Neil Frick, Vice President for Research and Medical Information, National Hemophilia Foundation
· Chris Guelcher, Nurse Practitioner, Children’s National Medical Center
· Michelle Witkop, Bleeding Disorders Nurse Practitioner, Northern Regional Bleeding Disorder Center
To view all the videos, visit the Novo Nordisk YouTube Channel , and please feel free to share them with your friends, family, and organization members!
Great Book I Just Read The Boys on the Boat by Daniel Jay Brown
Incredible true story of underdogs who go to the Olympics: the University of Washington’s 1936 eight-oar crew, their amazing and youthful coxswain, their aloof but dedicated coach and a legendary boat builder team together for an epic quest for an Olympic gold medal during the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. The story revolves particularly around one boy, Joe Rantz, abandoned entirely by his family during the depression, who has to survive on his own, put himself through college and discovers his calling rowing crew. He seeks to fill a hole in his life, and learns to trust. He and his team became national heroes at a time when Germany sought to dominate sports, and eventually the world. It’s a lesson in human spirit, indomitable will, teamwork, leadership, strategy, family, optimism and hope. Along the lines of Seabiscuit and Unbroken, both of which happened at the same time as this story. Fantastic writing and story! Five/five stars.
I just returned from India, there to check on our scholarship winners from Save One Life, my nonprofit. I was impressed to see such brave young men with hemophilia, most of whom do not often get treatment, attending college and trying to forge a future. They are succeeding. There’s so much joy in watching a young person fulfill their educational dreams!
It’s the same in the US, where so many with hemophilia are attempting to fulfill their dreams as well. Last week, I recognized the 17 winners of the Soozie Courter Hemophilia Scholarship, a Pfizer- sponsored tuition assistance program. This week I am pleased to spotlight the stories of three recipients who are working hard to achieve their dreams while living with hemophilia.
Evan Poole never let hemophilia B get in the way of his schoolwork or athletic pursuits. Evan’s condition forced him to challenge himself. When a bad bleed meant missing school, he always made sure to stay on top of his assignments. And he found athletic passions, such as golf, that he was able to pursue.
His perseverance has paid off. Following in his father’s footsteps, Evan is a freshman studying engineering at Trine University. He was also
recently selected to take part in the National Hemophilia Foundation’s National Youth Leadership Institute (NYLI), based, in part, on
his significant involvement in the hemophilia community. While Evan initially had some anxieties about starting school, including managing his condition without his parents, he is now excited and up for the challenge!
Travis Albright, a University of Michigan senior with hemophilia A, first became involved in the hemophilia community when he was 10 years old and attended Camp Bold Eagle in Muskegon, Michigan, run by the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan (HFM). His commitment to the community steadily evolved year after year as he too became involved with the NYLI, as well as the HFM’s MYLIFE youth leadership group. Through his leadership work, Travis quickly became a mentor to youth with hemophilia and encouraged peers to educate themselves about ways to successfully live with hemophilia.
Through his experiences, Travis became an advocate for people living with hemophilia. Following his passion to educate policymakers about hemophilia and advocate for access to treatment, Travis landed an internship in Washington, D.C., where he assisted Rep. Gary Peters and was invited to speak at NHF’s annual Washington Days event. He is now working to complete a major in public policy.
Michael O’Connor, a graduate student with hemophilia B, says he thinks of his life with hemophilia in two phases: before and after he
started swimming. Swimming became both a passion and a way to help him get in tune with his body and better manage his condition. He
swam competitively for many years and also started coaching. Michael was approached by a mother who had seen him speak about the importance of staying active and asked if he would give lessons to her 10 year old son with hemophilia. He jumped at the opportunity, and was able to combat the uncertainty of living with a bleeding disorder by being a role model for others. Michael believes that if you
are smart about yourself and your body, you work hard, and you do what you love, it’s going to work out in the end.
I second that from Michael. His mother, back in 1999, actually gave me the idea to start Save One Life, which now provides sponsorships to over 1,000 children with hemophilia in developing countries, and gives scholarships to many young men struggling to make it. It was hard work, but we love it, and we are reaping the rewards in watching young people live and thrive through their education.
And things are working out for Michael. He is back in the water – but in a different way. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in
geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin and taking part in a research project that often brings him to Louisiana. His work focuses on quantifying the role of coastal delta islands in filtering out nitrogen in the Mississippi River before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico and causes ecological damage.
While these students have taken different directions in their studies and extracurricular pursuits, they are all shining examples of overcoming challenges to achieve a goal.
We wish them much success in the future and thank them for sharing their stories. Visit Hemophilia Village and the
site’s Facebook page for more information on the Soozie Courter Hemophilia Scholarship program and to see video clips about these recipients.
Great Book I Just Read
South African Dispatches by Donald Woods
Donald Woods rocketed to fame when his young daughter was burned from an acid-laced t-shirt sent by the South African police in the 1970s, where Woods was an outspoken white editor and critic of the brutal apartheid policy of the South African government that treated black people like subhumans. This collection of his best publications, short 500-800 word articles, makes him a South African Mark Twain. Scathing wit, brilliant commentary in the fewest possible words, brimming with carefully-veiled loathing, and as the articles build on over time, direct attacks to the government jugular. The wit and clever turn of phrases disappears when his friend, Steve Biko, the leader of the black nationalist movement, is killed while in police custody. This little gem of a book is incredible; my best literary find of the year. Watch “Cry Freedom,” starring Denzel Washington as Biko, and Kevin Kline as Woods; great movie that captures the dark and brutal Afrikaners regime, and black struggle for self-rule. Five/five stars.
With the school year now in full swing, I’d like to recognize the “Class of 2013” winners of the Soozie Courter Hemophilia Scholarship – a group of students with hemophilia who are
dedicated to their education and to making a difference in our community.
Earlier this year, I wrote about this Pfizer-sponsored tuition US assistance program, which
happens to be named after a woman that I had the pleasure of knowing years ago.
Soozie Courter, who lived in the town next to me and who would share rides with me sometimes, worked in the hemophilia division at Genetics Institute (now at Pfizer) would be proud of this year’s winners and the continued emphasis placed on supporting academic excellence among the hemophilia community.
We are fortunate that there are numerous scholarships available to current and future US college students with bleeding disorders. Costs like tuition, books and supplies, room and board, health insurance and transportation can add up quickly and the Soozie Courter Hemophilia Scholarship program aims to help address these challenges. Scholarships are awarded to applicants who present the best combination of a creative and persuasive essay, excellent recommendations and superior academic standing.
For the 2013-2014 academic year, Pfizer awarded $50,000 in scholarships to 17 US graduate and undergraduate students with hemophilia. Through their involvement in local hemophilia chapters and mentorships, and their commitment to future plans, these students personify what it means to overcome challenges to make a difference in their communities.
I’d like to congratulate all the scholarship recipients—many of whom I have known since they were kids— and wish them much luck in the coming school year and beyond!
Travis Albright Eric Frey
Michael Bennett Alexander Kattenbaugh
Michael Bishop Shawn Whelan
William Bowles Lynden Prior
Andrew-Paul Deeb Evan Poole
Jorge de la Riva Michael O’Connor
Calvin
Dutcher Hunter Montgomery
Clayton Lynn Adam Mier
BoDean Messier
Visit Hemophilia Village for more information on the
Soozie Courter Hemophilia
Scholarship program,
and check back here next week to learn more
about three
of
this year’s winners!
Great Book I Just Read
Desperate Passage: The Donner Party’s Perilous Journey West by Ethan Rarick [Kindle]
The Donner Party indelibly stained American history for their horrific survival stories of cannibalism in the Sierra Nevada in 1846, trapped when the short-cut and untried passage they attempted filled with 13 feet of snow. Almost all schoolchildren read about this, but what was the real story? In this well-researched and written book, Rarick reveals the dreams, desperation and daring of the 81 people who set out for California in hopes of a better life. In that group were newborns and toddlers, teens and old men. 45 survived a situation that was incomprehensible; what is amazing is that any survived. Rarick delves deeply into the writings left behind, the personalities, the situational leaders and heroes and scoundrels. Human souls in their most desperate hours, some emerged stronger; some simply gave up. All needed one another. How the children suffered… It is a profound story and a testament to American willpower and daring. A great read. Five/five stars.
We flew in Thursday night (Nov. 14) to Bhubaneswar. I love Bhubaneswar. It’s small, colorful, intriguing, and poor. Paved roads give way to dirt roads; cars give way to bull-drawn carts. Sometimes it seems the poorer the place, the more intrigued and comfortable I am. If I dared to believe in reincarnation, as Hindus do, I’d say I must have come from the slums in an earlier life. I am at home in them, and am drawn to them.
The hotel is nice that we checked into last night. Clean, quiet. But no hot shower, again. Will I never have a hot shower in India? This time it’s because the water heater was “hidden” from view—my own fault. The food in the restaurant is also good. Indian food is just delicious!
Chittaranjan
Usha and I again pack up toys and factor to share, and Chittaranjan, the secretary for the Bhubaneswar chapter, picks us up at 8:30 am. We go to the medical college where Chitta is attending as a nursing student.
Chitta is an amazing young man. Only 24, but so unworldly mature. He has hemophilia, limited access to any factor, is going to college, doing well, and running a whole hemophilia chapter! He pulled together this entire event today. His demeanor is respectful, but he knows when to push to get an idea or suggestion across. I marvel at his diplomatic communication skills. This young man is a keeper.
Greeting from the Dean of the Medical College
The event was lovely. A large sign welcoming us personally was hung on the wall. A special plaque was given to us both thank us for our help. So many families had traveled from very far away, to see us. We got to meet them all, one by one, and ask some questions related to their lives.
For example, one, Jitendra, is 14 years old. He receives money from Save One Life and spends it on education and treatment. He lives 150 kilometers away. His father works on a farm, and must travel far away daily. The father had an intense countenance, a combination of fear and desperation.
Laurie with young beneficiary of Save One Life
When I asked him what one thing would make your life easier (expecting him to say free factor) he said emphatically and without hesitation: a vegetable selling business, to open a roadside vendorship, to be near his son. Awesome answer. He needs 50,000 rupees to start ($1,000). Through out chat we learned that a storm ruined his house and he now lives in a tent!! He only earns $100 a month. We stressed to our partners that they must inform us when disaster strikes our beneficiaries! We can help this man, and I promise him we will get this money for his business.
We took photos with each child, recorded their progress and needs. The dean of the medical college came in to meet us, and greet the children. After a few hours, a take-away lunch was served, and we set out to do some home visits. One obstacle to our work is language: communication is really confusing here. India has about 70 languages, so when we travel to different cities, we have to speak English, translated into Hindi, translated into the local language and then back again. So three people are needed to ask questions and translate! When 2-3 people are speaking simultaneously, explaining, talking over each other, questions and answers are easily misunderstood. We must be über careful when interviewing so correct information is taken. Some things are almost a given and are never misconstrued: most families earn about $10- $40 a month, nothing when you think of what they have to buy. And add hemophilia on top of this… life is a day to day struggle to survive.
This is one reason why education is paramount. When you meet a child in the States, you often ask, “How old are you?” In India, you must ask, “What class are you?” Education trumps anything else in their young lives. Education is a key to a future. This is one reason why we stress that Save One Life monies be considered for funding education costs.
Bikram wants to be a doctor
We head out eventually to visit Bikram, a young man who is sponsored by Save One Life but who needs a scholarship. He desperately wants to attend medical college and needs funding to study for one year, called “medical coaching,” so he can pass the exams to get in. Bikram lives in a clean, new building, but he and his parents live in one small room of this. There is nowhere to cook. There is no bathroom, just a public one down the hall and out a door. There’s one bed and you must use your imagination to sort out where do they all sleep? Bikram never smiles the entire time we visit. I compliment him on the colorful motivational charts I see on the wall. Set goals. Listen to directions. Believe in yourself.
I tell Bikram we will get him the $1,000 he needs for coaching. Somehow. Believe in us. The mother has tears in her eyes when we explain to her we will help. She offers us some simple food, in the customs of Indians when you come to their home. It is always startling humbling when you are in the homes of the poor, sometimes the poorest of the poor, and they exhibit more graciousness than just about anyone you know.
Street in Cuttack
On Friday morning, we head to Cuttack, a suburb of Bhubaneswar, about an hour away. It’s a very colorful ride, past temples, roadside vendors, and fruit stands. The streets are a mad scramble packed with cows, bicycles, motorbikes, autorickshaws, trucks and cars. The hospital is a public one, so it is exploding with people. Chitta, Usha and I have to shoulder by a crowd to get in to the hematology ward.
Deepak needs immediate surgery
Our goal was simply to say hello to the director of hematology. He has so many people waiting in line we feel guilty being ushered in. We chat a bit, snap some photos, and then head out to the wards. While at the wards, we come across a huge and shocking surprise. A 16 year old boy, Deepak Das, propped up in a sad bed, flanked by his worried parents. His right thigh is grotesquely swollen, causing his right foot to drop; the skin is stretched till it looks like it might explode. It’s a pseudotumor, Dr. Sudha explains, and he needs an amputation ASAP. This is a complicated case and we urge the staff to consider bringing him to an HTC. They have no factor to do the operation and the operation has been postponed but the boy is now critical. We pledge the factor and any money that can help. The mother starts to cry, and the father immediately sets to praying intensely. India’s culture does not include hugging in public, but this mother, so grateful leans into me and we hug.
Usha, our amazing liaison for Save One Life
Our last city is Pondicherry, in the south, a short drive from Chennai. We flew to Chennai for two days to attend the 25th anniversary celebration of the Chapter, where Usha is from. She is delighted to be home. But Sunday morning, back on the road with a two hour drive to Pondi. Pondicherry is a former French colony which still retains a French flair about it. It’s pretty and quite different than the rest of India. It has temples, museums and a botanical garden (you know this if you watched Life of Pi). It seems to me there are however more stray dogs here than anywhere else. India is ravaged by stray dogs much as the dogs themselves are ravaged by fleas, ticks and skin disease —ubiquitous, yellow mutts with the mandatory
curly tail, as though they were all sired at one time by a common set of parents. Half are lame; many are lactating. They are starved, wary and are everywhere. They set their eyes on me, Usha says, because they know I look different and they are hoping for better treatment from a foreigner. They do tend to approach me and follow me.
We meet with a large group of children at the clinic, and do a home visit in the evening. on Monday, my last day in India, we go to the beach with Dr. Nalini, who runs the clinic and the chapter. Usha and I stand at the Bay of Bengal, enjoying the fresh sea breeze and watching the European tourists. We take in an ashram, where people go to study yoga, and best of all, an ancient 15 century Hindu temple. We removed our shoes, and walk in gingerly, speaking in hushed tones. I witnesses how Hindus pray; their unusual gods, with elephant and monkey heads, blue faced, adorning the walls. I joined a line to enter a sacred room, where everyone was praying. An oil lamp was brought out by a half-naked Indian, and devotees waved their hands in the flame, then touched power to their heads.
A blessing from an elephant
Exiting, I was surprised by an enormous pewter-colored elephant, ornamentally painted and sporting an ankle bracelet, just outside the temple door. When you offer it a coin, it snatches it then touches your head in blessing. Not having any rupees, I think I gave it a New York City transit coin.
We were tired after the day; the weather was steamy and humid. We drove back to Chennai, straight to the airport, after saying our good byes to Nalini. We stopped at a roadside place that was good, and ate some Northern Indian food and masala tea, summing up our to-do list for the week. I was kind of happy to be back in my traveling clothes—black pants, white sleeveless hiking top—but sad to leave. On this my fourth trip, I am used to India now, comfortable. I never get sick, and love the food and people. I do get mentally drained trying to sort out the languages, cadences and interruptions, but am ridiculously pleased overall with how Save One Life programs are functioning and are actually making a concrete measurable difference in patients’ lives.
Back towards Chennai and the city was crazy bustling at night. Thousands of roadside vendors, shops, motorcycles, autorickshaws. It’s a sensory overload. I am in awe at the amount of humanity in one city. And yet the airport was all but empty, giving Usha and me the time and space to say a bittersweet good bye. We are great partners, and compatible traveling mates. I guess it all seems easy when you have one mission, one goal. Much to think about on a 24-hour ride back to my world.
Greeting from the beneficiaries in Pondicherry
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On a frosty Wednesday morning, I removed my jewelry, washed my hands thoroughly, suited up, and entered the plant with my hosts, to tour how plasma products are made. The plant fractionates 1 million liters (about 264,172 gallons) every year, using 24,000 liter tanks. First I watched a film on the plant: how plasma arrives, is checked, monitored and inventoried. How plasma is separated by centrifuge creating cryo paste for fractionation. There are 480 employees in Lucca, and the plant operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It will be closed over Christmas for maintenance and
We watched as lab employees handled the sterile vials into which the albumin would be placed, all by machine to reduce human contact. The rubber stoppers were placed, and the machines sealed it with
Speaking of power, the plant must have power at all times. What of there was a black out, someone asked? Kedrion is self-sufficient in power, Alessandro explained. They produce energy themselves
The Italian Health System is complex, making me realize we aren’t the only ones with healthcare budgetary woes. With 19 regions that are traditionally independent, 645 public hospitals, 50 HTCs, and an ongoing economic crisis, the federal government is trying to consolidate hospitals, and is asking for additional cost reductions from
We took photos with each child, recorded their progress and needs. The dean of the medical college came in to meet us, and greet the children. After a few hours, a take-away lunch was served, and we set out to do some home visits. One obstacle to our work is language: communication is really confusing here. India has about 70 languages, so when we travel to different cities, we have to speak English, translated into Hindi, translated into the local language and then back again. So three people are needed to ask questions and translate! When 2-3 people are speaking simultaneously, explaining, talking over each other, questions and answers are easily misunderstood. We must be über careful when interviewing so correct information is taken. Some things are almost a given and are never misconstrued: most families earn about $10- $40 a month, nothing when you think of what they have to buy. And add hemophilia on top of this… life is a day to day struggle to survive.
