That Insensitive comment
THAT INSENSITIVE COMMENT
by
Prof. Gangadhar Sahoo, Dean
IMS & SUM Hospital & Pro. Vice Chancellor, SOADU,
Bhubaneswar
Four of our friends were passing our leisure time over a cup of coffee. Topic of discussion was how market is flooded with different small vehicles with advanced technology and facilities. One is really confused to select a vehicle for his own. In 1992 , when I had my first car I chose FIAT over Maruti, because there was the saying at that time, "If you want to die with your family buy a Maruti." But when FIAT production was stopped, automatically Maruti took over the market. So the demand was too high. It was taking years to get a Maruti car from the date of booking. During discussion all my friends were participating as if they were CEOsof TATA, MAHENDRA & MAHENDRA, FORDS, Hyundai, Maruti Sujuki. There were no inhibitions on their parts to give their expert opinion also. Everyone was sharing their views, experiences and thrilling secrets of their maiden experience. During this discussion my friend Bhagirathi (Dr. Bhagirathi Kar, Prof. of Medicine) told a story related to purchase of a Maruti car which was full of tragic emotions.
It was probably in the year 1990 when Bhagirathi was doing his postgraduation course in general medicine in AFMC Pune . While passing through the artificial limb center he met a gentle man whose face appeared familiar to him. Gathering courage he wished the gentleman with NAMASKAR, "Are you Dr . Prusty?" The gentleman nodded with a surprise. "You are?" "I'm Bhagirathi, Dr. Bhagirathi Kar, a student of yours in SCB Medical College, Cuttack. During internship I was posted in your unit and I was working in the second Medical ward. I am doing my MD (General Medicine) here at AFMC.“ “So nice to meet you", said Dr. Prusty. "Sir, why are you here in artificial limb center?" enquired Bhagirathi with much hesitation. Dr. Prusty lifted the pant of his left leg. Bhagi was shocked to see his amputated limb. "What happened Sir ? Any accident? Any tumor ?" "Sit down Bhagi, if you have time to listen."
And Dr. Prusty told his astounding story:
- It was the 10th December, 1989. My family was traveling in the Utkala express to Delhi for an outing during the winter vacation of my children. We had a plan to tour north India and return before the cold wave engulfed the whole of north. When the train reached Agra I got down to get snacks and coffee for all of us. My wife was awake but both my children were asleep. I thought that the stoppage time would be about 15 minutes there. I ordered freshly prepared snacks and two cups of coffee. On the stall I was just going through the headlines of a news paper, when the train suddenly started moving. I had no time to pay the exact amount. Hurriedly I threw a 500 rupee note into the cabin of the stall owner, held my packet of snacks and ran to get into the train. The train had just started. Passengers were getting into the train. My wife standing near the gate had got into a panic and started shouting. The co-passengers also had come to the gate to help my wife. In front of me there were two lady passengers struggling to get in. When my turn came all negative thoughts had clouded my mind. As the train was gaining momentum I was getting panicked. Looking to the helpless condition of my wife and feeling for my children I became more and more nervous and scared. My left hand was occupied with snacks, right hand was free and with that I tried to grasp the anchoring rod of the gate as forcibly as possible. But to my bad luck I got imbalanced and my hand slipped.
What happened after that, I didn't remember. When I gained a foggy consciousness I found myself in a hospital cabin. The wall clock showed the time as 6pm. I was with an oxygen mask. Sound of the monitor indicating that my heart was beating normally and I was alive. On my right hand a blood drip was running and on the left, a saline drip. One staff sister was busy in recording my blood pressure and then went to write the records. I was confused, "Where was I? Where were my wife and children?" I was feeling severe pain on my left leg. I called the sister and put my queries to her. The sister said that I was in the main railway hospital of Agra and all my family members were OK . Doctor had advised that I was not to be disturbed and everything will be told after my complete recovery. She gave me two injections and went out, advising me to rest. It was around 10 pm when I gained complete consciousness, my mind was clear, saw my wife sitting on my right side , moving her fingers on my right hand to alleviate my pain and both my children standing beside her with innumerable questions in their eyes. In a sobbing voice and wet eyes they said, "Papa, God is great. We are fortunate to see you alive." Kissing my head both started crying. Her mother hiding her tears and emotions consoled them and asked them to sleep. The night duty staff came for round and after her routine check up told my wife that everything was normal and whenever required to give her a call. She came to me and said, “Good night , Doctor ! Have a sound sleep.
Next day I heard everything from my wife starting from my fall on the railway track till I gained consciousness. Once my hand slipped I lost my consciousness. Co-passengers pulled the chain . My wife fainted seeing me bleeding profusely. My right leg was chopped off and had fallen at a distance. Both my children were helplessly crying. All passengers and railway staff helped me to be shifted to the main hospital. Fortunately my friend Dr Purna Chandra Behera (Puru) was the deputy medical Superintendent there. He personally took charge of my treatment and asked my wife to be mentally strong and take care of the children. Within no time OT was ready, blood arranged, team of skilled orthopedicians and anaesthologists arrived. It was a lengthy procedure to transplant my chopped off leg. My wife and children in the cabin were praying to God. No God and Goddess were left out from their prayers. Every minute passed with anxiety, appearing as if an hour had passed. Any sound at the door or any buzzer appeared as if either a ghost was calling or an angel. Four hours passed. How those lengthy, anxious moments passed, only my wife and children could feel. What was her feeling only she could express. Finally a message came from OT that operation was successfully completed and Dr Prusty was stable. He will be observed for one hour and will be shifted to the cabin. A sigh of relief prevailed in the cabin. Madam Prusty took a cup of tea and children shared a packet of snacks. Tears of joy flowing from their eyes, mother and children hugged each other and thanked everyone who helped and silently thanked the Almighty.?
Next morning Puru met all of us. We had a chat for about half an hour. We were meeting after a long gap, almost after our internship days in SCB Medical College. I thanked him for his great help to save me. He rather reciprocated saying, "Bhai ! Not only you are fortunate, whole of your family, friends, relatives and patients are fortunate. Pray to God for your almost lost leg to get a life again." But that was not to be. My luck had a limit. On the 4th post operative day gangrene developed and it was to be amputated. I didn't curse my luck. Rather I thanked everyone for their effort. Prayed to God to give me strength to lead a fruitful life with a disabled leg. My son reminded me my own teaching, "Man proposes, God disposes." Surgery was planned to remove the gangrenous leg two days later. On the 10th day I was discharged from the hospital.
I reached home to start a new life. I took two months leave to prepare myself mentally and physically to get accustomed to my new friends, to the walker, wheel chair, clutches etc. For mobility I needed a car and a driver which became an unavoidable necessity.
I had booked a Maruti Alto two years back which was supposed to be delivered one year later. I applied to the competent authority on disability quota to expedite the delivery. The company obliged. Within 15 days I got the delivery of my car with a discount. A driver was arranged. One problem was over. Next thing was to arrange an artificial limb. As per the advice of my treating orthopedician I was to go to Pune to get it. Therefore, Bhagirathi, I am here. One interesting thing happened during my leave period. Almost daily some of my relatives, friends and old patients come to meet me to express their concerns and sympathy for me. One day my friend Dr XXXX, a surgeon came to meet me with his family. When we were chatting he saw my new Maruti car and asked, "Bhai ! Is it yours?" "Yes! It is mine." “I remember we had booked on the same day. How was it delivered to you so early?”
I said, "There is a provision for disabled quota. I availed that. Then spontaneously he commented, “You are so lucky my dear friend ! Had I been in your place, I would have been so happy. I love Maruti car so much. I will rather prefer to sacrifice my limb to get it. I have to wait for a year or so. Intolerable and so much painful! “ Such an insensitive comment?
I was shocked to hear it. I knew the value of a limb once it's lost. There are people like Dr. XXXX who were after the materialistic world. They valued only the money and materials more than their life, family and friends. It's painful and a bad luck that we have to tolerate them and live with them. Pray God to bless them with wisdom. I have forgotten the pain of accident. I have forgotten the painful living without my leg. But the words of Dr. XXXX still echoes in my ears.
Prof Gangadhar Sahoo is a well-known Gynaecologist. He is a columnist and an astute Academician. He was the Professor and HOD of O&G Department of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE, Burla.He is at present occupying the prestigious post of DEAN, IMS & SUM HOSPITAL, BHUBANESWAR and the National Vice President of ISOPARB (INDIAN SOCIETY OF PERINATOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY). He has been awarded the BEST TEACHER AWARD of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE,BURLA in 2013. He has contributed CHAPTERS in 13 books and more than 100 Scientific Articles in State, National and International Journals of high repute. He is a National Faculty in National Level and delivered more than 200 Lectures in Scientific Conventions.He was adjudged the BEST NATIONAL SPEAKER in ISOPARB NATIONAL CONVENTION in 2016.
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