Karl_Grobl-100

Friday April 28th 2006 in Kolkata (Calcutta) India "Mother Teresa's Nirmal Hriday Established in 1952. known as Mother Teresa's home for the sick and dying destitutes " or locally as "Kalighat" helps thousands of patients every year, most of whom are coming for care in their final hours of life. They are destitute and sick, some found lying on train platforms by MoC volunteers or brought in by Police. Most have no families. "This [Center] was Mother's first love because first she started her work here. She wanted to look after the dying. Mother's Blessing is here-really, it is overflowing. We have no problem. Mother said when she was dying, 'I will help you more when I am with Jesus,'" said Sister Glenda, Superior of Kalighat. Some families locate their loved ones at the center and take them home. "The family, thank God Ö they cry, they welcome each other, they are grateful to God," said Sister Glenda, Superior of Kalighat. "Everyday, we have dying cases. Everyday. People come with sickness [for which] they are not able to get treatment. They are coming and dying; just entering the house dying. This is very special," said Sister Glenda, Superior of Kalighat. Some of the patients become healthy. An estimated 70 percent of patients become healthy enough to leave the Center for the families or their homes, whereas 30 percent stay. In 2005, the House had 1200 patients admitted-of them, 762 patients were discharged and 420 died. "The flood of volunteers who work here do much of the work. They sweep and clean the floors, bathe the patients, give them medicines, dress them, wash their clothes, and clean their toilets. We all clean toilets. That is our work," said Sister Glenda, Superior of Kalighat. "The main illness of the patients at the respite hospital is malnutrition. Outside, the people have nothing to eat. Nothing," said Sister Glenda. CRS provides the respite center with bulgar wheat and oil.