MBM Ch.23

What I took from this chapter was that Paul Farmer is someone who always keeps his composure, even amidst more difficulty. As if dealing with the issues in Haiti and Peru weren't enough, Paul Farmer in this chapter demonstrates his capability in being able to take on any challenges willingly: in this case, Russia and it's worsened state of MDR-TB. Interestingly enough it's as if everyone around him has developed this same drive within themselves, I'm positive that there wasn't a single person who complained or acted like they weren't going to be able to handle the business in Russia on top of all the other needs that need to be attended to. Kidder also demonstrated Farmer's kindness and compassion at it's fullest, so far, in this chapter. Demonstrating how Farmer is blind when it comes to a person's history or or features how in his eyes he sees patients in need, and his unending ability to prioritize his patients before himself.

MBM Ch.11

Upon scrolling through the different posts I noticed that some of the class chose to reflect on chapter 11's violence. In particular I feel like what I read on pages 112-113 is an image I will forever associate whenever I hear about the Haitian Junta. A visual disturbingly graphic and more gruesome than any fiction book I've ever read, the realization that this account is real is scary. It's honestly made me feel grief for the people in Haiti who are so oppressed that at the action of even saying a meaningless complaint about the road could lead to punishment by acts of torture. What stuns me is Dr. Paul Farmer's bravery. When he saw that bloodied and beaten beyond recognition corpse he had all the reason to flee Haiti and evade the likelihood of having to witness this brutality again or possibly even let it happen to him. Not many people can just stand their ground after seeing an atrocity such that happened to Chouchou Louis.

"Chouchou's back and thighs were striped with deep lash marks. His buttocks were hideously macerated, his skin flayed down exposed gluteal muscles. Many of these stigmata appeared to infected.