THE FINAL INVITATION
DR.GANGADHAR SAHOO.
EX DEAN IMS AND SUM HOSPITAL BHUBANESWAR
EX PRO VC SOA DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY BHUBANESWAR
Before she breathed her last Rajashree ( Prof. Rajashree Tripathy , Department of Pathology) had given a hand written chit to Debahuti, the Head of the Pathology Department. At that time she was in SUM HOSPITAL MEDICAL ICU with life support in critical condition. The chit contains only a few names. While handing over the chit she has told Debahuti to convey her message of death on her behalf to all those persons and invite them to attend her 11th day function .
When I joined IMS and SUM Hospital in the year 2013 as Prof of Obstetrics and Gynecology she was one of the few faculty members who had come to meet me. Touching my feet in traditional style she said, " I am one of your fortunate students who has got a chance again to work under your guidance. " It was so emotional a statement. How can I forget that ? Every year on the 5th September ( The Teachers Day ) she will come to my chamber, remove her shoes and touch my feet in typical style seeking my blessings . I put my hands on her head . What a moment for a teacher ! She will hand over a MEMORABLE gift in the form of a pen , probably asking me to write her final wishes. When I was the dean of this college she had met me on a few occasions to solve some issues related to her posting. During my tenure she was promoted to the post of professor. She was the eldest daughter, taking the responsibility of education of her three brothers and three sisters and looking after her ailing parents at the cost of her self comfort and personal ambition. She opted to stay single.
What a sacrifice !
Just before COVID PANDEMIC she was diagnosed to have stage IV OVARIAN CANCER. It was notoriously asymptomatic till the date of diagnosis. She was forced to undergo the diagnostic tests when her lower abdomen appeared swollen and her colleagues took her to the radio diagnosis department in spite of her reluctance and refusal to do so . Ultrasonography was done and everyone's suspicion was found to be correct except her . She stood unperturbed and left it to God for the next course of action.
She had undergone radical surgery for advance stage of carcinoma ovaries with metastasis to bowel and lymphnodes. Along with surgery she had to undergo bowel resection and colostomy. After her recovery she was advised chemotherapy combined with radiation. In spite of all these problems she had never neglected her clinical and academic assignments. She was taking her classes, guiding the post graduate students and doing her laboratory duties with utmost sincerity and perfection . One year back she lost her father whom she loved the most. From that day her moral strength gradually began to break down. She became irregular in following her regular course of therapy. One day I got the message that she had fallen sick and was deteriorating very fast. She was hospitalized in our ICU. In spite of her illness her mental condition was sharp.
I retired from my service on 31st May. Got the news on 2nd June that she breathed her last. On 3rd June a condolence meeting was held in the department and the college as well. I had attended both as a part of my moral duty without any formal invitation from any authority . I had no inhibitions either. In the condolence meeting I had said, " I haven't come of my own nor any body has called me. But I felt as if the soul of Rajashree is calling me. "
In that meeting Debahuti revealed that I was one of the invitees listed in that chit handed over to her by Rajashree.
I could not attend her father's rituals. How can I miss her final invitation? I did attend that to fulfill her last desire. Thank you Debahuti for conveying me my student's last wishes. Pray for Rajashree 's great soul to remain in peace. Having said that there remains innumerable questions to be answered in medical science. I being a professional in Gynecology since 1976 am clueless.
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