Nicholas Comninellis

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Compassion Amid Commerce

LIGHT Elder Care

 

Non-profit organizations are an unusual phenomena in China, best known of course for it’s rapidly growing economy and keen business sense. For the last three weeks I’ve enjoyed the privilege of being with Liaoning International General Health Trainings – better known as LIGHT. In the northeastern city of Shenyang, LIGHT provides both post-graduate education for Chinese family physicians AND patient care for people living on the margins: orphans, the elderly, and people in poverty. I observed a beautiful model of heartfelt virtue being lived out day to day by Chinese totally engaged in the rough and tumble of world of compassionate care.

 

Example: Pengchu is a lady in her 70s. She lives in a ‘retirement center’ on a tiny pension provided by the government because her children have no interest in her. They never visit, and certainly never send money. Pengchu suffers from hypertension and diabetes, but never knew this until her retirement center – really only a dormitory – was visited by LIGHT. The resident physicians and their faculty tested her pressure and sugar, making the diagnoses. With treatment,  Pengchu’s prospect for a longer life is bright. Perhaps even more significantly, she is receiving previously unknown warmth and attention.

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