A Royal Pain in the Throat Tinnitus - ENT & Allergy Associates

and despair of the Sri Lankan Tamils livingin the northeastern part of the island.Dr. Jey says that the government has wronglylabeled all the Tamils in that region as terrorists.He believes that it is unconstitutional towithhold aid from people who want nothingmore than to return to work and resume anormal life with their families. Dr. Jey andhis daughter, Brintha, have traveled to thewar zone created between the LTTE and theSri Lankan government, at great risk to themselves.They have witnessed the starvation,lack of healthcare and sparse living conditionsforced upon these people. Dr. Jey oftenworries that their situation will not improve.After what seems an endless flight, Dr.Jey disembarks the plane in the city ofColombo. He hires vehicles to transportthe medical supplies and equipment thegovernment inspectors allow him to carry.On his last visit, he was not allowed to carryhis luggage, which contained medicine hebrought from his own medical practice. Heand other volunteers traveled through sixhoursof rough terrain, hampered by severalcheckpoints, before reaching the hospital.His patients may walk over two hours to seehim. Some days he sees as many as seventypatients. Those who have traveled far formedical care often camp outside the hospitaluntil the next day.Dr. Jey sees children with chronicallydraining ears from untreated ear infections.The cases are so severe that some have leadto deafness. He has seen patients who haveruptured ear drums caused by constantbombing of buildings, even schools thatare filled with innocent children, which arebelieved to be terrorist training camps. Dr.Jey speaks of atrocities against his peoplewith such energy and passion it is clear hecarries their future with him everywhere.He teaches local doctors and nurses howto perform follow up care while he is gone.He trains them on the use of the medicalequipment donated by the Cornwall-StLukes Hospital. However, he knows thatmost of these patients, who risk their livescoming to the hospital in the first place,won’t return for follow-up care. There areno weekly appointments or recheck visitsfor them. No refills of medication to callin to a pharmacy. For many, even aftermedical treatment from Dr. Jey and theother volunteers, their conditions continueto worsen.Dr. Jey envisions that one day the sufferingwill end but he does not know when. Untilthen he will continue to collect medicineand medical equipment for his next trip toSri Lanka, and to make a difference in thelives of Sri Lankan Tamils the best way hecan for now, one patient at a time. •Courtesy of Julia McGuire, “The Sentinel”(revised for republication)23