PBS kicked my butt last night

The Man and I sat down to watch the PBS documentary “A Storm Over Everest” last night. Climbing Everest is on The Man’s bucket list. I won’t even contemplate that – I do NOT want to think about him freezing to death helpless and alone. I couldn’t bear to lose him like that. Ugh! Enough!

SO – here we are – with an hour or so until the show starts, and we decide to watch the documentary preceding “Everest”.

A Walk to Beautiful – A documentary about obstetric fistula and the devastation this condition can cause. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I was so touched by a documentary. The show follows the stories of several women who suffered this horrible injury during childbirth and their road to recovery. Some of these girls are married off at 8,9, and 10 years old, become pregnant and end up in labor for incredibly long periods of time – one woman spent 11 days in active labor. Invariably their babies die and in the process of labor these women are injured and develop an obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula in simple terms is a hole from the bladder and/or rectum (sometimes both) that causes the woman to constantly leak urine and/or feces from her vagina. The poor girls are dismissed by their husbands, and upon their return to their birth families are quite often ostracized by their families and the rest of the community.

The cure can be relatively simple – a surgery to repair the hole. Cost - $300 dollars. Quite often the physical healing is the easy part. These poor girls have been emotionally devastated by the treatment they have endured at the hands of their family and fellow villagers. The time they spend at the fistula hospital aims to heal some of their psychological scars. The joy on these girls’ faces after their surgery was absolute. One of the doctors said, “Her happiness is my prize. I have a very good job”.

As I was washing my face before going to bed last night I took a good hard look at myself - “What do you do that REALLY matters?” I envied the doctors and nurses at this hospital. I want to make a difference. I want to do something truly important.

Comments

[Katy]

PBS has the best shows and they always remind me of how good I have it and how I can and should help more.

[Michele]

I came over anyway. i actually saw documentary on this a few years ago and it was heartbreaking. Some American surgeon (female) went over and started operating on the women. It ended up being very moving, but yes, this theme does violate my "no news 'cause it's all bad news" policy.

[Mrs. G.]

I saw both of these and they were very moving. I think we all want our work to mean something.

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

PBS has a way of doing that to you.

[Amy the Mom]

Well, you're off to a good start. I've never heard of it prior to this. Thanks for posting about it!