Travel Postcard

Check out the Global Daughter picture in the Seattle Times!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/travel2008583734/

This photo was taken in March 2009 on a trek in the Helumbu Region of Nepal. After 8 days of trekking, I met up with a group of cancer doctors from the sole cancer hospital in Chitwan, Nepal. They were in the village of Kakani administering pap smears, breast examinations and eye check-ups for women in surrounding villages. Women came from miles around on foot to experience this type of women-specific care for the first time.

The old woman in the photo was seated in that same place for hours. She did not get up, even for the free tea, and she did not talk to anyone. The younger girl administering the eye examination, is a nurse pracitioner from the hospital who volunteered her time to come out for the 2-day event.

You can't see in the picture, but a woman from behind had one eye covered to read the letters posted. The women were confused about the exam and couldn't understand the concept of checking vision. It was incredible to witness. After talking at length with the doctors, we ended up dining with them and listening to fascinating medical stories from their work in Nepal.

You can read more about the health camp in our previous post.