False Positives

As a Physician, I know a lot about the theory behind lab tests that we do. I know that all tests have the possibility of False Positives and False Negatives. (A "False Positive" means that the test says you have the disease when actually you don't. A "False Negative" means that the test says you do NOT have the disease, when actually you do.)

Our family had three False Positives this past summer, and speaking as a patient, it was stressful for us. In other words, on three different occasions we were told that an abnormality was present, and then on further testing, found out that actually it was normal.

I had the first one. I went in for my routine Chest X-Ray, that I get every year ever since I had TB (Tuberculosis) some years ago. After the X-Ray, I went back to the Doctor to get the results, and he said, "Hmmmm, your lungs look fine, but one of your vertebrae looks odd. You might have TB of the spine. We have to do more testing."

For me, the results just took a few hours, and it was determined that I do not have TB of the spine.

Then my wife was told she may have an abnormality of the cervix. Since she was almost due, there was nothing more to do until after delivery. So she had to wait two months to do the further testing, and be told that everything is normal.

And then Elijah failed his first hearing screening, which meant that he might be deaf. And it took four visits and lots more testing before someone finally said, "No, that test was false. Your son can hear."

So anyways, everything is fine, but I am disgusted with "False Positives".

As a Physician who routinely orders tests, and had to deal with the fallout of both False Positives and False Negatives, that has been a good "Learning Experience" on being humble and gracious and patient in explaining to patients what a test means.

“I was born and raised in Varanasi.” An Addendum to the Below Entry:

Nora Grace is of the habit of spouting out random sentences on occasion that may not have anything to do with what is going on at the time.

The other night at supper she said, “I was born and raised in Varanasi, wasn’t I?”

Well, yes, I suppose she was. I hadn’t thought of it before. At least thus far, Varanasi has been her home.

She has been telling us how much she misses her home in recent weeks while we were in Thailand. She misses her friends in Varanasi, and she misses her routine, she misses her bed, and all her books.

These things, in combination with the previous post, make for a confused Dad.

I am Angry at myself for being frustrated at how happy my children are…

Hmmm, there were a lot of emotions in that sentence. Let me start with the “happy” part.

We just got back from Thailand. In Thailand, (as opposed to where we live in India), there is green grass to run in, trees with green leaves, a lovely blue sky with puffy clouds floating along in it. Our kids were at places where there were lots of other kids whom they could play with. And they spent many of their days runny around, giggling, laughing, getting skinned knees and grass stained skirts, and in general, being like I think normal kids should be.

The reason I am frustrated, is that I know that that is not how they will be in Varanasi, that there are no places for them to run and play (other then their concrete room), and there skin will turn back to a grey color from the dust.

The reason I am angry with myself is twofold: one, our children are happy in Varanasi, even if they do not have things I wish they would have. And second, India is where we are supposed to be at this time, so why should I be frustrated at how happy my kids are when they are NOT there?

Anyways, a gamut of emotions.

Nora Grace had a LOT of fun with other girls to play with

Miriam Helping Out (Sorta) With Elijah

Sam, Doing What Sam Does...

A Synthesis of Current Information Regarding the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ...(from a six year old)

We were riding in a taxi recently, and to pass the time, Nora Grace turned to Miriam and said, "Let me tell you a story... I can tell you the story of how Jesus died on the Cross."

And so Nora Grace launched into a fairly accurate portrayal of what happened, according to the Gospels, including quoting the words from the Cross.

However, you should note, Nora Grace has also recently watched the movie, "Ben Hur", the old classic Charleton Heston flick taking place in the time of Christ. And further, I am teaching Nora Grace Ancient History, and we are currently working our way through the Roman Empire, complete with my bias regarding Latin etc.

And thus the otherwise scripturally accurate portrayal was filled with little comments that included:
"...and when Jesus was carrying the cross out of the city, He fell down and Ben Hur helped Him for a bit, and then Ben Hur's Mommy and Sister got better..."
"... Jesus walked up Calvary on a really good road, because the Romans built really good roads, and we can still drive on them today, but this is not a Roman road, because we are in Thailand..."
"... when Jesus said, "I thirst", they gave Him something to drink, because when Ben Hur was thirsty, Jesus also gave him something to drink..."
"...they were talking in Latin, because that is what the Romans spoke, and they were in charge, and made everyone speak Latin, but we have better nouns...

Anyways, the possible concerns regarding Home Schooling.

(Sorry if all the stories about the kids get a little old, they really do make for some of the best material.)

It is Hard to Ignore Leviticus...

“You tell me the truth,” he slowly stated, “Does it say in this book that eating Pork is forbidden?” He was a big guy, and he leaned in close with his face inches from mine.

The Bible in front of us was open; we had been free-ranging through various topics when this one came up. It’s hard to say. It IS there, you know, those verses that say you can’t eat pig. It is our Holy Book, and it DOES say it, and it is never specifically refuted in the New Testament. And yes, I know the reasons why pork is now permitted, but they are hard to say in a sound-bite, and a sound-bite is all I had in this fast paced discussion. (It seems that all my discussions are fast paced, couldn’t we just slow down and study for awhile?)

It is hard to find chapter and verse that specifically allows it to his satisfaction, and chapter and verse is what he wanted.

So we had found our way to Leviticus. I often ignore Leviticus, I have read it before and, while recognizing this as the Word of God, I much prefer more exciting topics. Well, I guess Leviticus got more exciting that day.

And we found those verses where God says, “Do not eat pig”.

He was (disappointingly?) impressed.

“I know that there are bad Muslims out there who eat pig and drink whiskey,” he philosophized, “But now I know that there are bad Christians out there who do not follow the words of their Book.”

He likes my Book. I am happy about that. He and his wife are reading it together; this is a good thing.

So while I talk about Grace and Law (though haltingly, goodness this stretches my language ability), I cannot deny that Leviticus is the Word of God. God did not write some parts of His book to be better than others. It is all inspired. Including those verses in Leviticus where God forbids His people to even touch a pig, let alone eat it.

I felt a little bit like I took a step backwards that day. But perhaps not. What I wanted was for him to study the Bible, and he is doing it. To see the Whole Book as a Unity is an achievement that takes some time. It is refreshing to put the burden on God to defend His Own Word.

Nice to be challenged to read my own Book.

But Whom Do You Sleep With?

(This is an old story, but well worth re-telling)

Our Fair City is an immensely crowded place. Many “homes” will have 100 to 200 individuals living in them, crammed into rooms as they continue to put more concrete layers on top of the current stories.

Every room in the building (“building” is probably a better word than “home”?) is used at night for sleeping. A husband and wife will have a private room, with perhaps a child or two under ten sleeping with them. Unmarried males will sleep many in one room, and unmarried females in another one. Roll up mattresses get pulled out at night onto the floor, and every couch can hold a person or two.

But the bottom line is, no one gets a private room to sleep in.

A friend of ours – a young, single woman then – lived in Varanasi for three years. She got a small apartment and lived happily.

Once she was out visiting, when the conversation came up of who was sleeping in which room. Her friends inquired where she lived, and she explained that she rented a room.

Her friends got a puzzled look on their faces, “But whom do you sleep with?” they asked.

They were unable to comprehend the concept of sleeping alone in a room. Indeed, it sounded rather scary to them.

We only have six in our room.