*All names have been changed to protect the privacy of the patient and family.
Leap magazine recently published a moving article about the weekly children’s palliative care clinic organized by Pallium India at the Sree Avittom Thirunal Government Hospital in Kerala, India.
Smriti Rana, who is Consulting Psychologist and Programme Director of the Children’s Palliative Care Project is considered the master of joyous interruptions, “she manages to turn a series of sombre medical procedures and transactions into a room celebrating a kid’s birthday party with all the toppings”. The article begins by introducing us to some of the lovely children being cared for by Rana and her team. We are introduced to brothers Arif*, five years old and Altaf*, eight years old who both have cerebral palsy. Altaf, Arif and the other children at the clinic are cared for by Dr Annie Varghese. The medical procedures such as drawing blood are very difficult…read more