Welcome to India

I hear this a lot. Usually after something odd happens. When I told someone I had to get Luis's measles vaccine at 9 mo because Measles Season starts October 1st, (instead of part of the MMR series at 15 mo), I was told, "Welcome to India". When I saw people using the beach & ocean as a large toilet, I thought, "Welcome to India." When I see people rinse a glass out in tap water and then fill it - still wet & dripping with tap water - with filtered water, I think "Welcome to India". When there were donkeys in the street - unattended, homeless donkeys - that blocked traffic for more than 30 minutes. Well, "Welcome to India".

Apparently, after the monsoon season (now, for real, honestly, I think the rains have stopped), it is also Conjunctivitis Season. Welcome to India. Diego came home Wednesday night with an itchy, gooey, pink eye. He picked up some drops at the pharmacy (I haven't encountered any reason you need a prescription here - Welcome to India - I guess). Thursday morning, his right eye was swollen shut and his left eye was gearing up to be a mess. We continued with the drops and Benadryl and Tylenol. He put ice packs on his eyes. We sequestered him to our room to keep Luis and me safe (and conjunctivitis free).

By mid-day he was worse. His eyes were terrible and he felt bad all over. I called our doctor, who said he wanted to see Diego right away. I asked if he could come to our flat. His response? I'll be there in about two hours. WELCOME TO INDIA! Dr. Hingorani came over and examined Diego and labeled it Acute Conjunctivitis. He prescribed two sets of antibiotic eye drops and two types of pills - all of which can be delivered by the pharmacy. Welcome to India. The doctor's bill, for the at-home consultation, $20. Welcome to India. Diego's medicines, all of them? Under $3. Welcome to India.

One big perk about India is that everything can be ordered for delivery. Groceries, dog food, booze, medicine, doctors - even cash. The bank guy will come to your door with cash and then you write him a check. And for the few things that can't be ordered in, there is Babu who will run out for us. For days like this, it's great. Actually, for days when it's been raining for 36 straight hours, it's great. On days when Luis is cranky and not fit for the public, it's great. And for days when it's 135 degrees outside AND 95% humidity, it's down right glorious. Welcome to India.

I wish I could say that those magic drops and pills made everything right in the world. They are helping that is for sure. Diego's eye is no longer swollen shut. While it looks a little more red and gooey and gross, Diego reports that he is feeling better. But now, I have drops and pills of my own ... because I have conjunctivitis in my left eye. So far, it's only one eye. And I started with the drops within 40 minutes of noticing symptoms. I'm hoping that my case won't get nearly as bad as Diego's. Mostly, though, I'm hoping that Luis doesn't get it. Oooooooohh, I'm hoping Luis doesn't get it.