I believe there is a Cherokee Indian Reservation somewhere in the mountains west of Asheville. There are a number of Native American patients in the Heart Tower right now, and its been interesting to hear their food preferences and their eagerness to go home to a more familiar life. I would imagine my impatience to get out of the hospital as it is, but to add a different lifestyle to the experience? It must be a difficult stay when they are transferred from their regional hospital to big, bad Mission. I saw two Cherokee patients these past two days, and they seemed sad, complained of the food, and spoke of strong wishes to go home. It also broke my heart to see their diabetes med list, blood glu, and GFRs. I tried to negotiate with an older woman this morning saying that if she ate the protein on the dishes full of the "crazy" food we serve her, she'd heal her ab wound faster and be able to go home.
Nothing else cool happened today. I didn't faint, however, next week, I'm doing the Oncology and Psych floors, so my preceptor and I have agreed to ease me into the eating disorder patients.
I'm so bummed that I'm missing the Memorial Day weekend cookout with our crazy neighbor, Bret! We got the invite yesterday. I'm sure it'd be an interesting experience in itself, however, I'm REALLY curious to go inside his condo and get an accurate cat count. Asheville sure is chock full of individuals. People watching is entertaining.
Laura - what do the Cherokee Indians usually eat?
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah---the ideas floating around the RD office is pretty simple fare but its mainly fried. And the cheaper junker foods. So, if they develop heart issues and/or DM and have to come to a bigger hospital, they get put on a low sodium, low sat fat diet, so they think the food tastes bland. Plus, I think its an unfamiliar presentation (they still get bread, but it doesn't look like how they make it) so they are skeptical of eating the whole thing.
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