The past few days have gone by like a whirlwind. Sanjay had gone to the Lake club for an event where on a whim, he ventured to play a few shots on the newly laid out synthetic turf, in the lawn tennis court. The adhesion between the leather sole of his moccasin and the turf, caused him to lose balance and he came crashing down; his left wrist taking his entire body weight. The wrist bones snapped! With excruciating pain and a splatter of blood, he saw his left hand twisted in a wayward direction. His wrist watch broke and fell ahead.
Surrounded by friends like family, he was whisked away to GMCH-32 and put under the aegis of an able team of doctors. When I got word and joined him there, I saw pain writ large on his face. The night was agonising; a series of tests and scans were done.
Early next morning, a complex surgery was planned. When the doors of the operation theatre closed, there was a sense of helplessness in our son and me. We just surrendered to God. And surrendered to the doctor, to put the patient into ‘temporary sleep’ under anaesthesia and work his magic on him! Some hours hence, the surgery being done, a titanium plate in place, I met Sanjay in the post-op room and was gratified by the tender, caring attitude of the anaesthesia team, monitoring his vitals after extubating him. I marvelled at the unassuming attitude of the surgeon, his humility and ability at having aligned the broken and displaced bones in Sanjay’s wrist. Doctors are demigods! My head bows down …
Later Sanjay happened to ask the surgeon what his most difficult case ever, had been. He said simply, “Every case is equally difficult and important. We can just do our best.” He added that at the surgeon’s end, there is a consciousness that the patient and his family have surrendered to him, their most precious possession - the life of the patient; so the responsibility is huge! He also quoted one of his seniors; a world renowned surgeon, that doctors can intubate, operate, medicate, ventilate etc. They can only do their best and then leave the rest to God. Only God can heal or give life! But God has His instruments … and they are Demi-Gods in white uniforms!
We shall remember always, the entire package of care including ghar-jaisa khaana, physiotherapy etc. Having been discharged to go home, a wheelchair attendant was sent to our private room. Sanjay sat in the wheelchair, supporting his plastered arm in a sling. The attendant started to push the chair. I was stunned to note that he had a polio leg! He wheeled the chair through the wards with ease, careful of Sanjay’s comfort. I asked him about his leg and he said proudly, “Ma'am I have a polio-leg, but I can do everything that my job as a ward attendant requires.” As he manoeuvred Sanjay’s wheelchair, I felt a deep sense of awe. Sanjay is 6 feet plus and able bodied. The man who wheeled him from the room in the ward, to the exit door, was probably two-thirds of Sanjay’s height and weight, had polio-leg and yet his sense of duty was paramount! I was overwhelmed! We are indebted not only to the hospital, the doctors and nurses but also to this strong-willed, specially-abled person. His smile and commitment touched my heart!
Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, “Duty without love is deplorable. Duty with love is desirable. Love without duty is Divine.”
We experienced it first-hand! And my tears are punctuated with gratitude for Gods and Demi-Gods …
Well! If you have something to share with me, do mesage in the comments section below. Thank you :)
(A slightly concise version of this article was published in Hindustan Times (Sunday Read) Chandigarh on 18.09.2022.)
