Namaste — A Sanskrit greeting used everyday in India, an ancient Hindustani word open to interpretation
One such meaning is: I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom, and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One.
Our team is well aware of the importance of this mission, the changes we have made in the lives of our patients. We did not do this on our own; many people were necessary for the success of this mission.
Many thanks to all:
To Pam and Dennis Dundas, our Head Nurse and Medical Director, long time Rotaplast volunteers and supporters, who so generously funded our mission to Agra.
To the Nayati Hospital administrators for giving us the use of their beautiful, modern facility and support staff — doctors & nurses, and operating room, custodial & security staff for their important help, and especially to the kitchen staff for serving the best lunch. Every day.
To the local Rotary clubs for all their help and support, especially Rahul and Sachin Wadhwa, for their concentrated efforts over the last couple months to get everything ready for us. We could not have done this without them.
To our volunteers who did whatever it took to get job done, for taking two weeks away from their families and jobs, to all the folks back home who covered for us during the last two weeks.
To our escort, Alok Kumar, our bus driver, Neeraj Issar, and his assistant, Anand Mishra for always getting us where we needed to be, always with a smile and the greeting of “Namaste”.
For the support of everyone back at the Rotaplast home office for making this mission happen.
Nineteen volunteers, individuals, some known, some unknown at the beginning of our time together, now forever bonded, together with these people and this country, even though we may never meet again. We changed lives by creating beautiful smiles and increased function from burn scar releases, but our lives have changed more. We are incredibly rich after our time here, receiving so much more than we gave.
Bahut-bahut dhanyavad, Agra. (Thank you very much.)