Mahesh is a 40 year old patient of mine,he is suffering from end stage liver cirrhosis and I have enlisted him for a cadaveric liver transplant in a tertiary hospital in Mumbai.
He is a happy go lucky person with a devil may care attitude.He is destiny's child according to me.His past was alcohol ridden and probably criminal.I saw him over 2 years and then he disappeared, God knows where,I never ask but last year he called me from a prison in Pune seeking medical advice,also made me talk to his warden about his poor health so that he would be spared the rod.
I helped him as I always do.He is still grateful for that act of mine,now, has surrendered all his medical decisions to me.
One thing always used to disturb me that his building neighbours,incidentally patients of mine always used to look down upon him.They told me not to take his case which I flatly refused since I am bound to my Hippocratic oath and have to treat all patients with equal dignity and compassion.Also i find it very insulting when some other doctor takes over my case,leave aside the money part.
Always, 2 women used to accompany him to my hospital, last week I mustered enough courage to ask his personal history, he told me that he had 2 wives and both were sisters.This shocked me.
The first wife could not bear any offspring hence was tortured by in laws to leave the house and to protect her the younger sister agreed to sacrifice and become the second wife.
Really brave of her!
God had some other plans though,in 2 years the first wife became pregnant and delivered a baby girl.The second wife is yet to bear any child as she has some gynaecological problems and is seeking medical intervention for the same.
Anyway let us not question decisions of the almighty,who are we? just mortal beings!
Strange are the ways of god!
Both the wives are ready to donate their livers for Mahesh however they are too fragile to survive the procedure hence a cadaver will eventually donate his liver to salvage him.
I wonder who is going to give him the gift of life, there is a waiting list for that also as people in India are very religious and they don't want to cut open their dear ones' bodies. A real social awareness is also lacking amongst us regarding organ donation.
I tease mahesh 'Double Seat' in view of his two wives and he laughs heartily all the time.
I told him that his daughters fate will keep him alive,if she is lucky, will get a rejuvenated dad!
With tears in his eyes he told me yesterday that he never repented on his past but if god gave him 2-3 years more, atleast his daughter's future would be secure.
I just walked out of his room
No,
I didn't cry,
My tears have long dried away with the perpetual suffering that I have seen over last 20 years.
I thought about his daughter's fate and then just let the flood gates open and cried hard after a long time.
I wish him a successful transplant.
He is a happy go lucky person with a devil may care attitude.He is destiny's child according to me.His past was alcohol ridden and probably criminal.I saw him over 2 years and then he disappeared, God knows where,I never ask but last year he called me from a prison in Pune seeking medical advice,also made me talk to his warden about his poor health so that he would be spared the rod.
I helped him as I always do.He is still grateful for that act of mine,now, has surrendered all his medical decisions to me.
One thing always used to disturb me that his building neighbours,incidentally patients of mine always used to look down upon him.They told me not to take his case which I flatly refused since I am bound to my Hippocratic oath and have to treat all patients with equal dignity and compassion.Also i find it very insulting when some other doctor takes over my case,leave aside the money part.
Always, 2 women used to accompany him to my hospital, last week I mustered enough courage to ask his personal history, he told me that he had 2 wives and both were sisters.This shocked me.
The first wife could not bear any offspring hence was tortured by in laws to leave the house and to protect her the younger sister agreed to sacrifice and become the second wife.
Really brave of her!
God had some other plans though,in 2 years the first wife became pregnant and delivered a baby girl.The second wife is yet to bear any child as she has some gynaecological problems and is seeking medical intervention for the same.
Anyway let us not question decisions of the almighty,who are we? just mortal beings!
Strange are the ways of god!
Both the wives are ready to donate their livers for Mahesh however they are too fragile to survive the procedure hence a cadaver will eventually donate his liver to salvage him.
I wonder who is going to give him the gift of life, there is a waiting list for that also as people in India are very religious and they don't want to cut open their dear ones' bodies. A real social awareness is also lacking amongst us regarding organ donation.
I tease mahesh 'Double Seat' in view of his two wives and he laughs heartily all the time.
I told him that his daughters fate will keep him alive,if she is lucky, will get a rejuvenated dad!
With tears in his eyes he told me yesterday that he never repented on his past but if god gave him 2-3 years more, atleast his daughter's future would be secure.
I just walked out of his room
No,
I didn't cry,
My tears have long dried away with the perpetual suffering that I have seen over last 20 years.
I thought about his daughter's fate and then just let the flood gates open and cried hard after a long time.
I wish him a successful transplant.
UPDATE-
A few days back, I got a frantic call from his wife that the police had arrested him , taken him to a government hospital which treated under trial patients. The care offered was abysmal and Mahesh was slowly sinking. I had no power to shift him under my care or to guide the myopic doctors over there, my helplessness knew no bounds.
He succumbed eventually.
The image of the two white clad ladies and a grieving daughter still wakes me up from my dreams.
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