Saturday 29th Nov 2008 - Segregation of duties

Today I called a meeting of the physios . Manjunath, Bhavani, Nitasha and I met at the end of the day. The exhaustion of the week was evident on their faces. I almost hesitated to place another yolk on their shoulders, but it gave me consolation that the excitement of the job would lift them up .
Mr. Manjunath, being a postgraduate was assigned the task of the 'Stroke Smart Campaign' . this would be a campaign to spread stroke awareness though audio-visual means , with the the help of volunteers. This would include making models , charts, academic input for the drams as well.

Ms. Bhavani was given the task of coordinating the indoor volunteers. once the volunteers come, Bhavani would regulate their placements and assignment of cases to them. I felt that Bhavani would be open to the challenge as I feel she has great potential , given the proper challenges.

Mr. Kulbhushan (Absent currently) was given the grand yolk of formulating and regulating the recreational therapies. and maintaining the Family tree that he had made of all the patients .

Ms, Nitasha was give the responsibility to co-ordinate the external associations and organizations. The outreach programs done outside the hospital premises by the volunteers.
She was too , to regulate and co-ordinate the timings and patients for the counselor possibly coming to help us out.

The chores didn't quite set in as per the blank look on their faces.. I will have to see the reactions on Monday .. Whatever it maybe.. I'm glad they are a aprt of my team .. I could'nt have chossen better .

24th November 2008 - St. Joseph's experience

The Reality of the I-Shine project finally dawned on me as I walked into the grand halls of the prestigious st. Josephs college. We, i.e. the PRO, Nitasha and myself were there to present the I-Shine project to a group of volunteers working under the center for social concern . Although we joked about it, the nervousness was clear on our faces. There would be a thin line between being awed by the group from doing such a noble job and being laughing stock. Young people are so unpredictable.

The presentation went okay in a classroom of about 50. Some listened attentively, some looked un ntrested , but many were moved to sniffs. I felt the response was good. The chill air of the cyclone 'Nisha' tormenting nearby chennai gave the tinge of excietment another boost.

We left the venue to allow the presenation to set. in .. we were to know about it the next day .. Will keep you posted ..

Stepping stones..

The first step we had taken was to have an NGO help us initiate the Wellness program . The idea was that as the NGO would be established in their methods, it would be a welcomed addition to our idea of expanding to Rehabilitation package to a much more wholistic level.

An MOU(memorandome of understanding) was established with blind faith in each other. Minor details like the qualifications and the number of volenteers were overlooked. This turned out to be crucial with time as it was to affect the quality of the services provided and professional accountibility.

One this was clear that this wasn't and ambitious project. It was an emotional one . And emotions are quite volatile to handle sometimes.

The Connection with the NGO was established through a good frind of mine. But sadly , in time, our frindship was scarred by the conduct of the NGO. My frindship was the first martyr for a good cause. Nevertheless all was not lost. These sort of experiences help us to work at a much more mature level.

A potential loss of the NGOs suport meant diappointing stroke survivors that were expecting to congrigate on sceduled dates. Nevertheless , I was ready to let negotiations work its way in its time.

The I-Shine project was no child's play, and certianly not at the expense of survivors. Me, being in the centre , between the hospital management and the patients , could not tolerate things being done in a slack fashion. One had take a firm stand on certian issues, which I did. Like asking the NGO to clearly outline in methods of working, list of volenteers, a comitment to the cause as a sole provider of such a facility and spreading in colaboration with the hospital. these had to be done to regulate a safe , qualitative wleness program. Signing and MOU on blind faith was one thing, Exposing patients to people blindly was another !!

The good thing, I must add, that came out of this exercise was the motivation to initiate stuff on our own. We started looking beyond the scope of the NGO and started brodening our horizons.. This has given us a renew fire to place our faith in the divine healer.. and help us to let our light , truely shine !!

In the begining .. there was nothing ..

In the beginning there was nothing.. Then there was light !! A sudden realization that this vision had to be realized. A sudden , almost tormenting urge to strive to achieve that goal or forfeit some sort of damnation for not doing the best you could have !!

Such was the realization of the 'I-Shine Project' .

I-Shine !! Such an animating phrase that just lifts your spirit when you say it .. just try saying it aloud ..

I-Shine !

I-SHINE !!

Brilliant, isn't it ? How one word can lift your spirit !! how one touch of compassion can give hope to the hopeless.. How one person who dares to think out of the box can save the lives of many ..

People say why ?? I say 'WHY NOT !!'

Why can;t we , for a change step out of our comfortable little recipe protocols of ideally treating a disease and not a 'Human' patient !! How is it that we tend to be lost so much in the recovery of the patient that we forget to see the 'PATIENT' itself ?!!

I-Shine is a dream that dares to confront the traditional rehabilitation protocol. I-Shine will prove that if your treat the patients heart ( pun intended) you will save his life..

Rehabilitation is not done TO the patient.. it is done WITH the patient.

I-Shine is the humanization of therapy. I-Shine be a new way of healing rather than simple 'curing'.

Welcome to our dream of the I-Shine Project !!