TAKAYASU Arteritis: The reigning soul mate to beautiful women

My sister Tshering Yuden has first picked up respiratory problem and got admitted to JDWNR hospital in March 2015. Having gone through all the tests, she was confirmed of Takayasu Arteritis disease. A rare disease that causes inflammation in the medium and large arteries of the body.
The disease is more common to the child bearing age women. Over time the inflammation results in scarring and damage to the blood vessels. The aorta is the main blood vessel of the body and Takayasu's arteritis targets that vessel and its branches. The damage to the blood vessels results in decreased blood flow to the attached organs (heart, kidney, brain) and this can cause serious problems like strokes and heart attacks.

Symptoms vary depending on the severity of disease and location of the involved arteries. Symptoms can include high blood pressure, chest pain, neck pain, abdominal pain, arm/leg pain, edema, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

Takayasu Arteritis are of six types based on angiographic involvement.

Type I - Branches of the aortic arch

Type IIa - Ascending aorta, aortic arch, and its branches

Type IIb - Type IIa region plus thoracic descending aorta

Type III - Thoracic descending aorta, abdominal aorta, renal arteries, or a combination

Type IV - Abdominal aorta, renal arteries, or both

Type V - Entire aorta and its branches

To my surprise off late, as my sister narrates on our daily discussion on her conditions and medications. She once took a day off from School last year and visited hospital. She informed the health personnel in Paro hospital of the neck pain and adherently diagnosed and prescribed medication for tonsillitis. Today as she reflect with gained knowledge on the disease, was a wrong diagnosing. I am not blaming rather spreading a simple fact that would help you get fast diagnosed yourself.   

Dr. Yangchen with JDWNRH told me few months back that Takayasu is rampant these days amongst Bhutanese and she is of the opinion of something unusual or wrong with Bhutanese societal. It’s of the greater concern & agonizing to many and JDWNRH should study and cater to build a shelter to its call.

Dr. Debashish Danda MD, Professor and head of RHC department of Christian Medical College and Hospital at Vellore is of the same quandary. The Rheumatology department of the hospital has started serious studies on TAKAYASU. Including my sister Tshering, I have seen other four patients getting needy treatment from Christian Medical College and Hospital. One married, one just 15 and other three in their twenties.

Anyone with slightest chest or neck pain on medication or ignorant with a little ache, my recommendation would be meet doctor and get to know on TAKAYASU Arteritis.     

Pic:Google

A little dedication to my brother and his Kunzang Shedrup Choling Retreat Centre project.

The hard work he has put in for couple of years was of enormous, he single handedly raised funds, organized and finally half the target of Kunzang Shedrup Choling Retreat Centre at Tsheldang under Zhemgang Dzongkhag has come up with retreat program installed. 

The idea of this retreat came into light when he was closely working with Cheni Lhendup Rinpoche for the development of Orgyen Choling Monastery. People of Tsheldang and Nakhar gathers annually at Orgyen Choling monastery to celebrate their yearlong bounty harvest and to appease their deity for another year long. The monastery conducts annual five days drupchen with unfurling of guru Thongdrel on the last day.
Unfortunate Rinpoche passed away few years before his wish of retreat Centre near vicinity been erected few months ago. 
Well "he" here is Rigzin Wangchuk, the very architect of the Centre. He was born in the mountain and has his name "Rela" (Mountain Boy) formally though he introduces himself to others as Rigzin Wangchuk. The latter one is official but not formal. He last attended Simtokha school in Bhutan before he has master degree in Buddhist philosophy from Schechen Monastery in Nepal and basic English communication from Santa Rosa college in US. Today he looks after Lakar Choling Goenpa (monastery which needs another major renovation after the earthquake disrupted structures) in Paro and Tsanglajong Goenpa (Permanent resident lama installed this month) under Trong Gewog, Zhemgang beside the main retreat project. 
The founder Rigzin Wangchuk's side lined project includes supplying monthly ration to those not abled old citizenry of Tsheldang and Nakhar villages. 
Rela's (awkward name) aim & intention of making retreat accessible to nearby was acknowledged by His Eminence Gangteng Trulku. He also has in plan making short retreat courses available for any devotes, foreign or local in near future once his main Temple gets its desired shape. 
Now the legally few acres land donated by Khenpo's family stands serene on ridge above Tsheldang village giving another strategic view of few opposite villages. 
The skeletal structure of main building has cropped up and many internal design to be added as it progresses. 
Once completed the temple will house three main seven foot statues of Guru Rinpoche, Buddha and Pema Lingpa. Whole Pedling traditions and Dilgo Mind Treasure among others will be seen as wall murals. 
Today besides main temple, bus like a structure six retreat rooms, one spacious common kitchen and separate comfortable resident retreat master's living houses are also being built. 
HE Gangteng Truku was kind enough to give all by himself the empowerment, direction and initiation required for all the practitioners at Gangteng during the months of August this year. 
The retreat was initiated and empowered at the site by HE Gangteng Trulku's representative, one of the finest retreat master under the guidance of HE Gangteng Trulku on 2nd November 2015 coinciding with the descending day of Lord Buddha. Villagers and few guests joined throughout the procession and their three years, three months and three days formal retreat session begins.
Life wasn't easy for him and now after having installed retreat program Khenpo Rigzin moves away from an emotional spiritual scene to celebrity scene where a resident lama cum teacher for Tsanglajong Goenpa will be appointed. A little local Celebration should definitely ease him until another retreat practitioner joins in Paro formally towards beginning of New Year. 
I am writing this if it could be a little success story and History for those generations that will come and pass unto next. My main intent is to show the world the appreciation I a little brittle younger brother and other family has on my brother Rigzin Wangchuk for the life he leads that has given us the pride and honor. He deserves a better world now and life next. Our little support that doesn't even cover a bit will continue. 
My father Tshewang is on his seventies. He resigned from manual farming work and do not complain a single rather walks with a dream and smile on his face every morning to the site and does everything he could like fellow others for free. Another man behind the scene. 
Brother Inlaw Sonam Leki choose to resign from comfortable government job and committed to burden all odds for the good of the project. Having him to look after has paced everything and our long abandoned home now a homely. 
Not to forget, people of Tsheldang and Nakhar were our backbone. Their labor though not free was of greater pillars where we stood with confidence. 
My small contribution and participation along the journey know that some support has flown from supporters from Singapore and Malaysia. And the project still needs your helping hands. So I on behalf of Khenpo Rigzin Wangchuk would like to send appreciation and gratitude. 
The project is half way through and still in need of timely support. 
Timber permit royalty was only support government has given the project. The benefit off course to the community has up-scaled and still continues to be and undeniably in future too. 
Sounds unhealthy but this true I am requesting everyone, government, private or any individual I know for support my brother in cash or kind. 
Your support in any form will surely bring some positive impacts and in turn share all the merits and virtues together.

Khenpo Rigzin Wangchuk

Late Cheni Lhendup Rinpoche

Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore

Dr. Ida Sophia Scudder Memorial monument

The then dispensaries to today's technologically complex CMC hospital glory came into today's stature after the founder Dr. Ida Sophia Scudder from US initiated way back in 1900, older than Bhutan's monarchy as a small dispensing Clinic at Vellore. Dr. Ida S Scudder is a daughter to then the American missionary in India. She was born in 1870 & lived in India with her parents until 1878 when she returned to US. 1890 she returned back to India to attend her ailing mother. 

One evening, an Indian man came to their home requesting medical help for his wife who was in labor. But the man rejected Dr. John Scudder, the father of Dr. Ida Scudder's offer to help, you know the indecent Indian social customs when it comes to situation of this kind. The man just barred himself of the Dr. Ida's dad helping out with his wife labor. Two more men came with similar requests, seeking medical help for their wives in labor, but again turning down offer. The three women died in labor that night. 

So then it was from that point of time Dr. Ida had expressed a resolve not to follow her parent’s line of missionaries work. With so much of heart ache and repent of not being able to help three women in child birth who died needlessly in one night has raised her inner strength and drive to bring some change. 

After five years she again set back to US, enrolled in medical college and subsequently returned India in 1899 with her medical degree and a fiery passion to change things. She first started with dispensary in 1900, training program to nurses and expanding to nursing school following years. Going by their information today Christian Medical College & Hospital offers various PG courses, Ph.D. and other training programs enrolling more than 2000 plus every year. One of the finest in the country and renowned worldwide. 

Christain Medical College & Hospital

Believe it or not it was started with US$ 10,000 fund like that of Infosys Company in Mysore. 

Thousands commuters here pray to Dr. Ida Sophia Scudder, the lady who has brought home a lady to raise ladies. To more of men oriental Indian society women here are given an equal or even bigger sphere. Night ayeer (compulsory lady patient escort) jobs to women and a lift operators to disabled men are beauty precedence they have here. To my observation the hundreds of securities within the premises differ in their work, those illiterate placed outdoor are merely a guard while some having fluent written and speaking skills are given cozy place inside, safe from sun, rain and blazing heat. They does half the secretary's work. Educating for education is education.

Besides locals, CMC give medical services to Bangladeshis, Nepalese including lucky Bhutanese. Lucky Bhutanese, we are one of the wealthiest and the proudest international patients there. Free medical care and education in Bhutan is off course one incomparable heightened pasture. So my, our gratitude; to forefathers for free healthcare precedence, the government taking care now and future who would still keep the legacy going in Bhutan.