of pledges and oaths (by Karen)

The girls begin each day reciting a school pledge at morning assembly:
"Bhutan is my country, all Bhutanese are my brothers and sisters,
I love my country and am proud of it's richness, beauty and culture.
I will always work hard to be a proud citizen of Bhutan"

then there is dancing...

These are two of my little patients- they have both been hospitalized for weeks and have become close friends. Tashi (left) has nephrotic syndrome, a disorder of his kidneys, and Sonjam (right) has a complex heart defect and is awaiting transport to India for life-saving surgical repair.

Before Will and I could receive our Bhutanese medical license and begin working in the hospital, we had to sign an oath:
"I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of humanity. I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due. I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity. The health of my patient will be my first consideration. I will respect the secrets which are confided in me. I will maintain, by all means in my power, the honor and the noble traditions of the medical profession. My colleagues will be my brothers. Even under threat, I will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity."

The doctors and nurses we are working with have devoted themselves to giving the best possible care dispite severe limitations in resources, lack of financial support, and minimal staffing- we are humbled and inspired daily.