Jesurag Mascarenhas, M.D.
Last Summer Dr. Mascarenhas and his wife Pamela came from India for a three week visit with their son, a staff hospitalist medical doctor at Christiana Hospital here in Newark, DE. One morning I happened to notice the senior Dr. Mascarenhas walking down to morning Mass at Resurrection in the oppressive July heat. So I pulled over and offered him a ride. Thus, began our friendship...between me and "Mac".
Dr. Mascarenhas is currently the Director of a local hospital, Pasam Trust, Kodaikanal in southern India. He and two colleagues see up to 400 patients a day at the hospital and in visits to nearby villages! (I hope I understood him correctly on that one.) In my opinion he is a deeply spiritual man. Not just because he attends daily Mass and Communion, but because he dedicates his life to healing the poor, the outcast. Much like Mother Teresa. The motto on his business card: "Bear one another's burdens!" Galatians 6:2
One of the most heartrending groups of patients Dr. Mac has to deal with is the burn victims. Attempts at self-immolation by fire due to depression or family cruelty can be rather common in this sub-culture. When the attempt fails, the victim must spend the rest of his/her life enwrapped in mummifying scar tissue. When face and shoulder are fused together as in the photo below. Remember: these are very poor people! Who has medical insurance! Who has money to pay for expensive health care in one of the major city hospitals! They come in long lines to Passam Trust Hospital in Kodaikanal for free care. They come to Dr. Mascarenhas!
Dr. Mac received his formal medical training in Germany many years ago. He still has professional friends and contacts there. Every year a group of German plastic surgeons, anesthesiololgists and nursing specialists pack up their equipment and travel at their own expense to Kodaikanal for two weeks to perform amazing surgeries on these poor burn victims. Not for cosmetic beautification but to remove scar tissue. Over 200 surgeries are performed in two weeks in an attempt to restore some kind of normalcy to these long-suffering human beings. To release a jaw fused into a shoulder (see below) or arms literally melted to sides and chest. To enable a patient to finally feed and bathe himself. And live a halfway normal life.
There are, I am sure, many unsung heroes in this world. I am certain Doctor Jesurag Mascarenhas is one of them!
http://www.thescienceoffreedom.org/
Jesurag Mascarenhas, M.D.
Pasam Trust, Mappillai Mudaliar Street
Kodaikanal - 624 101, India
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r to l: Jesurag Mascarhenas, M.D., his wife Pamela and their son, Selvam, an MD at Christiana Hospital.
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The Village of Kodaikanal, India
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Dr. Mac, helping...healing. Most of these people are too poor to pay for his services.
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"Bear one another's burdens....
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A team of German plastic surgeons travel at their own expense every year for a two week surgery marathon. Not to beautify these poor victims but to remove scar tisssue
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Over 200 surgeries to remove scar tissue
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Dr. "Mac" and patient
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Hope for burn victims
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Celestial seated sitar serenade. Sock it to 'em!