I’M NOT YOUR SISTER
There is fascinating research happening at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The custom for the past 30 centuries there has been for people to marry their cousins, so it’s a wild place to study human genetics. Things like haemophilia are prevalent, and there is a bounty of the odd and unusual.
The persistence of marrying within family is made all the more fascinating given the care taken in breeding horses and camels over the same period of time. Serious and lucrative, winning a camel beauty contest can net you millions of dollars.
Stem cell research is also bountiful as studies are not hampered by the scarcity of ethics permissions like they are in the West. Top researchers come to Arabia from throughout the world to do this work. There is real potential and hopes for stem cells to heal damaged tissues – like brains and spinal cords – and to reverse the effects of disease and major traumas.
Dr. Ayodele Alaiya is a stem cell researcher at KFSHRC. He says a lot has been learned about harvesting, growing, and preserving stem cells, so that supply is no longer an issue. The problem is that after decades of research we still don’t have the slightest idea how to turn stem cells on, or make them become the tissue type that we want. Treating human conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or frayed knee cartilage hasn’t progressed beyond injecting a bunch of stem cells into an area and hoping that something good happens. And to be fair, occasionally something good does happen. But it’s very occasionally, and still no one knows why.
It’s not all research at KFSHRC. The hospital itself has an entire wing dedicated to serving the needs of the very large Royal family. With some 5000 Princes and complex family relationships (it’s legal for a man to have up to 4 wives) an entire department is needed to figure out who qualifies for treatment here.
The hospital rooms in the Royal wing are cavernously large and opulent. Adjoining the main room is a space where a buffet is usually set up. When a Royal is admitted to the hospital they bring in their own couches and drapes and carpets to make it feel more like home. The staffing ratio of two nurses per patient favours excellent care.
Because the Saudi education system has gaps in its quest for excellence, the care is mostly given by foreigners. Canadian healthcare professionals are particularly prized here due to their high education levels, professionalism, and work ethic.
Once when a high-ranking prince was admitted to the hospital a Canadian nurse named David was assigned to care for him. As David entered the room to meet the Prince (and entourage) everyone became excited and shouted out “Hey! Sister, Sister!”.
David stopped, dropped his head, sighed, and after a moment began to lecture the Prince. The room fell silent. A few jaws dropped in disbelief. No one lectures this Prince. Having a bad day or a sudden lapse of judgement is one thing, and career suicide is something else entirely. The Saudi government regularly tosses people out of the country for lesser transgressions than this.
But David forged ahead. He explained that nursing care in Arabia was originally provided by Catholic Nuns, called “Sisters”, and that the term “Sister” has been used ever since as a substitute for nurse. David emphasized that the term sister belongs to the female gender and that it is highly inappropriate to use that term for a male like himself. Stunned silence. David, trying to set boundaries, announces that he deserves to be addressed by terms appropriate to his training, stature, and gender, and he would appreciate it if they would call him “Mister Sister” instead. The room burst into laughter, including David, and Mister Sister cemented himself as one of the most beloved nurses that ever worked there. Our Canadians abroad are doing us proud.
Jeff Harvie – Physiotherapist
Bluewaterphysio.ca
