I was going to the hospital through the bridge road of karimganj,suddenly I noticed that someone is calling me from a shop…oh I just got the view…yes , one of our patients when I was working in cardiology department in 2008-09…he looked different..a bit healthy and was working in his own shop….the man in his early thirties was actually a case of huge tubercular pericardial effusion(fluid in the covering of heart)…I had done the pericardiocentesis(removedfluids) under my mentors and seniors…the case was not an easy…I remember it was the toughest case for me during my cardiology days…in the ICCU,under full supervision of cardiac monitor,ecg machine,with prophylactic preparation of all life saving modalities,we started the procedure….yes successfully procedure began,as I was pulling out the fluid(or for medicos..line is—as I was doing pericardiocentesis)…he was feeling well,talking with us,…but suddenly his pulse started dropping..yes it was initially 110,..then 60,then 40,30 20,10…still monitor was not showing any ventricular ectopics(that meant there was no fault during fluid withdrawl)…but now he started gasping…..we started emergency life saving measures…after that gradually monitor started showing some good sign,yes he was improving…probably he went into that state because of shock due to pain(sometimes people do feel pain sensation even after adequate local anaesthesia,or he was more pain sensitive)…..it was the moment that we almost thought that …
‘Ok, we will take all active intervention,but probably a NO hope for the young man….i almost felt like crying from inside while I was resuscitating…I was thinking that I have done many pericardiocentasis,but in this case he was talking with me so nicely…then it was almost a dead like situation…but he survived …yes by evening on that day, I went into the ward,and freed him from artificial oxygenation,he took food in front of me….i felt relieved a bit…next morning his antitubercular therapy was started and subsequently he was released after some days….
So, the man calling from the shop was that patient…at that time I got posted in karimganj…and the patient was also from karimganj,and I was on my way to the hospital….initially I was confused as he became healthy…then when he reminded me that he was the patient that survived at that time…oh he welcomed me so nicely in his shop,…just he himself gave description of that day…and said that he is very much thankful to us ……and by the grace of God,everything is in proper way now…I felt honoured…..i said him to follow the advice that we had given him earlier….
Now it became almost regular interaction …yes he daily used to call me as “sir,hw r u”..so I used to say “fine”…or a regular helloo or smile……
I got posted in karimganj in September 2009…but from april onwards I noticed that he was not in that shop,…I thought he might have shifted at some other place…as usual daily I was going to the hospital,with busy life,many patients, moreover although he was a tough patient for me,but after all he was a patient for me only…so I didn’t go deep into the matter that “where is he,why he is not there etc etc”….
In September 2010,As I was going to the hospital with many things in mind(,how many patients I have to see, again memorizing some questions of MD/MS entrance examinations,and many personal tensions acting as a catalyst) …..I saw someone calling from the same shop…I was about to ask that man about his identity…but he himself gave his short intro…and I remembered and said that “oh yes you are the elder brother and main family member of that patient”….then the ‘U’ turn in the destiny was revealed…the elder brother’s exact next statement,I am just putting his words here …
“one year back we almost thought that there was no hope,you all doctors and other staffs of cardiology department saved him from such a critical state…after that he was getting well and almost recoverd everything,gained weight,looked much more healthier than earlier times,running business successfully …he also used to discuss at home about you,about daily interaction etc etc and …..suddenly he developed headache that was too intense….we again went into the medical college …within one week he died…..When he was in so critical condition, when he was severely ill , when there was no expectation,if he would have died at that time,the pain and agony would have been less,but you all saved him(where there was no hope)…but irony is that after becoming so much well,he expired now…..this is more painful,agonizing…..what to say ‘it’s the destiny’ ”
Tears kept rolling from my eyes…he might have died from tubercular meningitis or other illness for which he was very well treated ….., yes ,many patients die,we issue many death certificates,but we rarely turn emotional….but this was special case for me….what to say …..i became helpless in front of that person…the elder brother wanted to offer me tea…but I denied…and I slowly started walking towards my home………………………………..
