ASCO 2018

ASCO 2018

                                     

The most exciting part of winning an international award, getting to visit the US for the first time, meeting your best friend, roaming around Chicago, going to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting (who had 40000 registrations this year) – was the people that I got to meet - the fellow IDEA (International Development and Education Award) recipients.

A group of bright young people from parts of the world having similar problems, if not worse, than ours. Some of them, who took palliative and end of life care as a passion. Edom was the only female oncologist in the country of Ethiopia which has one Radiation Machine for 100 million people. Pesona is one of the few gyne-oncologists from India’s neglected Northeast. Ishamel complained that Ghana doesn’t have enough mammography machines for screening and hence all his patients come in an advanced stage. Patience from Zimbabwe and Angela from Kenya took oncology training abroad and came back to their home countries to ensure that quality care is not denied to their patients. Eunice moved to palliative care after the child she treated with a lot of love, left the world. Das from Bangladesh and Jennifer from Guatemala were the first recipients of an ASCO award from their respective countries. Along with 11 others who had similar inspiring stories. Stories of struggles, hardships, undying passion, and determination.

They did not complain or resign to their fate when faced with adversities. They were focused and they fought. Fought against everything from natural calamities, corrupt governments, to poverty and disbelieving patients. All of them had a fire in their eyes and an intense passion for service.

Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

ASCO - IDEA winners 2018.

True stories -Sculpture

True Stories - Sculpture

                                       

It was news to me that the term 'Basilica' means a cathedral blessed by the Pope. We went to Basilica of St. Mary's at Minneapolis today - it is the first Basilica in the USA.

There, outside the Basilica, I saw this sculpture, without any sign boards or other markings. (Hence my views on what i saw are personal and non binding)

If you look closely you would see that the frail man under the blanket has puncture markings in his feet. With a jolt you realise that it is The Lord that you see, cuddled up cold in a bench in the park, under a seemingly thin blanket. Now what could the sculpture mean?

I think it means that the Lord might lie among the poor, the hungry, the homeless and the sick. That also means service to the poor, the hungry, the orphaned and the diseased is service to God.

As the famous Malayalam movie says, it is not the person who donates the Gold Cross to the Church who is God's favourite, but it is the person who treats the sickness, hunger or sadness of at least one person who is beloved to the Lord.

Such a profound message through a simple but elegant, unmarked sculpture on a park bench.

Happy Father's day. 😊