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My son had a very severe cold when he was 9 years old. He developed nephritis [kidney infection] after the cold. I encountered a lot of difficulty for his therapy. We went from doctor to doctor, the levels would not go down. A Greek doctor started a new therapy. This time the leukocytes [white blood cells—they fight the infection] went down, and the kid felt better. In reality, this doctor took a big risk, and gave my child cortisone without letting us know. Truthfully, if you think about the side effects of cortisone, the fact that a mother is kept in the dark about it could lead the patient to very dangerous directions. After this event, my son had to be raised with more care. I did everything I could until he got married.
After he was married, I did not concern myself with my son like I used to, so I would not be meddling in their lives. All of a sudden, it was found out that one of his kidneys was not functioning. We started going from doctor to doctor again, and it was decided that he needed dialysis. He contracted hepatities during the dialysis. My son was in a very bad state. You could say he was on his deathbed. They called me to their home and said they were going to India. India has an abundance of donors and it is a country that is advancing technologically. When we reached India with an ambulance, a Turkish doctor received us and took us to the barracks where the operation was going to be done. You might find the term barracks a bit of an exaggeration. But it was really a very dirty, primitive environment for such a surgery. All the preparations were done, and the kidney transplant operation took place.
India is a poor country, where the destitute have trouble finding food. The donors think they can buy a car to take tourists around or a small kiosk to prepare food to sell outdoors with the money they receive, to get on with their lives. But the pleasant demeanor and encouragement the people provide is really outstanding. The streets are full of people at peace with themselves. The doctors know the techniques very well, they have been educated at top levels in the world. The nurses do not have beds to sleep in but they are trying their best to serve. And I gained a new life experience by staying there a long time. Some of the things I did to support my son during that period was misunderstood by some people and they hurt me by calling me “a carefree woman”. However, it is much better for a son to see his mother in a good mood than nervous and sulking. My son could not understand the seriousness of his situation when he saw me with lipstick and a happy face. I never asked but I know that the necessary financial help was provided by a campaign in the Jewish community but my son and I never discussed this face to face.
After he was married, I did not concern myself with my son like I used to, so I would not be meddling in their lives. All of a sudden, it was found out that one of his kidneys was not functioning. We started going from doctor to doctor again, and it was decided that he needed dialysis. He contracted hepatities during the dialysis. My son was in a very bad state. You could say he was on his deathbed. They called me to their home and said they were going to India. India has an abundance of donors and it is a country that is advancing technologically. When we reached India with an ambulance, a Turkish doctor received us and took us to the barracks where the operation was going to be done. You might find the term barracks a bit of an exaggeration. But it was really a very dirty, primitive environment for such a surgery. All the preparations were done, and the kidney transplant operation took place.
India is a poor country, where the destitute have trouble finding food. The donors think they can buy a car to take tourists around or a small kiosk to prepare food to sell outdoors with the money they receive, to get on with their lives. But the pleasant demeanor and encouragement the people provide is really outstanding. The streets are full of people at peace with themselves. The doctors know the techniques very well, they have been educated at top levels in the world. The nurses do not have beds to sleep in but they are trying their best to serve. And I gained a new life experience by staying there a long time. Some of the things I did to support my son during that period was misunderstood by some people and they hurt me by calling me “a carefree woman”. However, it is much better for a son to see his mother in a good mood than nervous and sulking. My son could not understand the seriousness of his situation when he saw me with lipstick and a happy face. I never asked but I know that the necessary financial help was provided by a campaign in the Jewish community but my son and I never discussed this face to face.
Period
Location
India
Interview
Rebeka Evgin