"Be the One"

Another sunny day in Kolkata. We started off the same as usual: mass and a 30 minute walk to Kalighat. On the way, Nik and I passed a lot of fruits and veggies. After the mangoes, I think our next indulgence will be coconuts.

My day at Kalighat again began with laundry, but we had way less than we did yesterday, so we finished early. With some extra time before tea time, I headed over to the women's ward where I began by restraining/comforting patients as they got their wounds cleaned. There are some really deep wounds that look like pressure sores I assume from sitting on the streets. Lots of exposed muscle and bones, and I think I'll be able to learn a bit about cleaning and dressing the wounds as we go. 

After that, I fed biscuits and chai tea to a patient. This patient is pretty young and so beautiful! Super skinny, but super strong!! She would not let go of my arm until I started feeding her. I am not sure what she has, but yesterday she refused to eat, so it was awesome to see her eat so well today! I spent most the morning just sitting with her. I would make faces and occasionally she would copy me. Super sweet girl!

After our tea time, we fed the women lunch. Again, the young girl ate her whole plate of rice! After feeding my patient, I observed Catherine and one of the Sisters feed another patient through an NG tube (tube from nose to stomach). Before we fed her, we listened for the tube placement and all we heard a lot of bubbling (so she had a lot still in her stomach). The Sister just gave her a little water, but shortly after, unfortunately, she passed away. If she hadn't digested her food since the morning, it was really only a matter of time, but it caught me off guard to see her just stop breathing like that. The Sisters then brought in some holy water (I assume for baptism, but I did not see it), and they covered her. She seemed to go quite peacefully with a lot of loving MC Sisters around her. Lots of prayers for her.

Today, I was most struck by seeing the hardships some of these women have to carry. Getting their wounds redressed everyday is anything but pleasant and most of them have to be fed and dressed. But in their suffering comes a real union with Christ's Passion. I know they have helped me already to see the Cross of Christ and the pain of His thirst for souls as they carry their burdens daily. I pray that their difficult times be sanctified for the sake of the MC apostolate. 

The blog title is a Mother Teresa quote. She references the Agony in the Garden when Jesus seeks to be comforted by someone, but they are all asleep. She challenges us to "be the one" who gives him comfort.