HW #23: Illness and Dying Book Part 2

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Precis:

     Paul Farmer is truly one of a kind, he would rather put other people before himself continuously. He speaks for Haiti basically and addresses a lot of their issues, for example the DOT program which actually makes patients conditions worse.With all of his world humanitarian help Paul Farmer has been able to address MDR Tuberculosis in some third world countries. Paul Farmer isn't even in it for the money, he just cares and wants to help the people.

Insights:

 " It bothers me even to look at it... It can't support eight million people, and there they are. There they are, kidnapped from West Africa," (Pg 188). Haiti has way more people in it's country, than it can support itself. They also are so poor and technologically un-advanced they also can't support the people.

" She thought he'd never experienced true depression, a freedom so enviable she almost resented it. I've never known despair and I don't think I ever will., he wrote me once.It was as if in seeking out suffering in one of the world's most desperate locals, he made himself immune to the self consuming varieties of physic pain."(Page 189) Ophelia basically thinks that Farmer has never been so sad it stopped him from functioning completely. Farmer is able to work through the illness and dying he deals with on a daily basis. He simply doesn't have time to help himself and his own problems.

"Never underestimate the ability of a small group of committed individuals to change the world.. indeed, they are the only ones who ever have." (Page 164) Usually when small groups try and make some positive change to the world it works. This may be because of the chemistry that can be built with less people. They can work more on issues rather then argue and get nothing done.

Thoughts:

     I was saddened that WHO had flaws inside it. I was actually very surprised, more surprised than I would normally have been. Anytime the government gets involved, whatever the thing there helping with. Farmer and his dedication and love towards helping ill and dying people was amazing. Farmer is almost the very definition of saint to me. He literally treats his patients as human beings and on a much personal level than current doctors do. All doctors should read this book before they finished medical school.