On Saturday, January 28, Pallium India-USA and the community of Silicon Valley, California were honored with a special guest.

Pallium India chairman Dr. M.R. Rajagopal gave a talk to a full house at the private home of Dr. Jyoti Lulla, a well known and respected Saratoga physician and community member.

The event, organized by Pallium India-USA, was well attended by many physicians, healthcare workers, Silicon Valley executives and engineers, and others who wished to learn more about the work Pallium is doing in India.

Pallium India-USA Volunteers

Dr. Jerina Kapoor, chair of Pallium India-USA introduced Dr. Rajagopal.

Dr. Rajagopal’s hard hitting and at times emotionally intense talk took on the serious problem of suffering and pain relief in India.

He told two stories: one of a poor woman, Sangeeta, whose mother was dying of cancer. Her own future was foreclosed on as a result of the impoverishment created by the absence of an adequate medical and social system. The second story was of a wealthy man, Mr. Das, who nonetheless was traumatized by his doctors’ insistence he undergo needless life-extending treatments.

Dr. Rajagopal challenged the audience to think about and plan for their own future.

“Most of us won’t have the good fortune of an instant death,” he said. “The majority will have a prolonged decline.”

A lively and passionate discussion followed his presentation. The quality of the talk was a sure sign that positive change is possible when it comes to caring for the seriously ill and dying around the globe.

In all a very successful event.

Dr V Jayaprakasan (right) is a retired Professor and Dean of Veterinary Sciences of the Kerala Agricultural University.

He came across palliative care when his dear wife Sushama got cancer of the pancreas.  She is no more now, and his work in Palliative Care is the Taj Mahal that Jayaprakasan (JP as he is fondly called by the team) has built for the departed Sushama.

Welcome, JP, and thank you for all that you are doing for people in pain and suffering.

We thank Alpheusmedia, The Lance Armstrong Foundation, Anne Nagelkirk and colleagues for a precious Christmas present! A three-minute video on Pallium India: