A diamond in the rocks

 

Today at work I was seeing a 29 year old woman for a physical exam. When I entered the room I saw this frail looking young woman with tattoos on her legs and more tattoos showing on the chest through the shirt. The long sleeves were probably concealing more of this pigmented art on the hands. She didn’t waste time to tell me that the substance abuse program she was in needed me to certify that she got a physical. She had not brought any forms with her for this mandatory physical. Immediately she pulled up her phone and called someone at the program. They took our fax number to send the form. 

While awaiting the papers I began chatting with the patient. She told me she had used methamphetamines in the past but was clean for nearly 15 months. She was waiting to fulfil the last part of the substance abuse program so she could regain custody of her 4 kids. The kids were currently with her mother. 

As I gathered her reasons for the physical I was taking notes into her chart. She looked up and interrupted. You are not writing all this in my chart, are you? I don’t want anything written about my kids. I said if I’m expected to do a physical for the drug program what am I going to say it is for? Would you like me to write that you are using drugs? She did not take that statement well. You want to drug test me? Go ahead. I tried to clarify , I’m not asking to test you or anything. Testing will be needed if your program needs it. She was getting increasingly agitated with me. I saw this could lead to baseless accusations. I excused myself briefly and got my assistant in the room as a witness. 

The patient was already speaking in a loud tone, demanding that I don’t mention anything about the reason why she was in the program. She began yelling at me saying over and over again how her husband badly beat her up, broke her bones, and she began using drugs, went to jail etc etc.  My assistant told her to calm down. No need to shout here!

I quickly intervened. Looked at the patient and said, look, I want to help you. I see you have had a very difficult life. But I need to document a valid reason for you being in the program. You tell me what should I write. Should I say you are in it because of previous use of methamphetamine? 

She nodded with a yes.

We were speaking each other’s language now.

I had begun to see what was happening here. All she was demanding was that her kids not be mentioned in the chart.

A troubled young woman with a rough life behind her, trying to break away from a destructive lifestyle just so she could get her kids back! She was roaring like a tigress to leave the kids from being mentioned in her medical records. The raw maternal instinct was so powerful in her, it made me take a step back and help her the best I could. I changed my note in her chart and she changed her demeanor.

There was something very pure about her. I could almost see her bare soul even through her agitation. I completed her forms and she left quietly. 

All I could wish is that she be united with her kids and lead them to a better future. 

I’m going to remember this one for a long time.

Saree is a very unique Bhujodi woven with fine tussar yarn by a man very dear to me. Pachanbhai Vankar from Bhujodi village in Kutchh. This man is a truly gifted artisan with a refined sense of color and design. An alumni of the Somaiya Kala Vidyalaya, his Bhujodi sarees and stoles are par excellence in every aspect. This particular saree not only  creates a delectable concoction with the earthy shades of coffee brown, mocha, cinnamon,  and burgundy while mixing in pistachio and mint greens, it also quietly adds the rich flavor of ikat into the body. Pachanbhai loves to experiment with different techniques and that makes all his works so special and desirable. I have acquired his woven  designs in pastel shades, neutrals as well as bright colors. Some are decorated with mirror work Kutchhi embroidery. Some made with fine cotton. Some in organic Kala cotton. One made out of Eri Silk. One made out of bamboo fiber. Then there are stoles that have stories and themes about environmental conservation. Truly every piece is a treasure. A simple and humble man, just like Meera Mehta, he and his art speak the same divine language.