Prologue: The Breath Between Moments
Life rarely unfolds in a straight line. Sometimes, it
whispers through poems, aches in the bones, or breathes softly in hospital
corridors. This is the story of a man, not defined by his illness but refined
through its trials. A tale not of tragedy, but of transformation—narrated in
five soulful phases.
Phase 1: The Poem – A Breath in the ICU
In the sterile silence of the hospital's embrace…
A first encounter (Dec, 2023)with the ICU is not just a medical
event—it is an existential confrontation. Machines beep a language only the
soul understands. There is no hierarchy of age when illness strikes. From the
“youngest of souls” to the matured “family man’s stride,” the dance with
uncertainty demands courage, humility, and love.
This poem—born in the sterile hush—captures the intimate yet
universal reminder: life is both fragile and fierce. It’s in these moments of
stillness that we meet ourselves anew. Every breath becomes sacred. Every
heartbeat is a vow. And every family gathered at the bedside is a testament
that love doesn’t panic—it prays.
Phase 1
In the sterile silence of the hospital's embrace,
A tale unfolds, a journey through time and space.
A first time encounter with the ICU's cold glare,
Life's unpredictable twists, caught in a medical
affair.
From the youngest of souls to a family man's stride,
In the corridors of fate, where destinies collide.
A heartbeat's rhythm echoes in the sterile air,
A symphony of life, a dance with despair.
The monitors hum, a lullaby of uncertainty,
As loved ones gather, their hearts in unity.
The first time in this realm, where fear takes hold,
Yet courage emerges, resilient and bold.
A fragile thread connecting the past and now,
A test of strength, a solemn vow.
The youngest to face a daunting trial,
Transforming into a family man with a determined
smile.
Life, a fragile tapestry, woven with threads unknown,
In the ICU's hush, seeds of hope are sown.
Unpredictable as the winds that gently sway,
Yet resilience blooms in the darkest of gray.
From the first gasp of breath to a family man's role,
The journey unfolds, a story to console.
In the embrace of life's intricate plan,
A testament to the spirit that defines a mortal man.
Phase 2: Co-Creation in Crisis – The Medical Odyssey
From early adolescence, a strange dull pain whispered a
mystery that took decades to decode. Diagnosed inconsistently with a sickle
cell trait in Odisha, the protagonist navigated a long medical maze with quiet
perseverance—never fully ill, yet never completely well.
The second hospitalization in March 2025 became a pivot
point—an ICU admission that unraveled years of symptoms: infective pneumonitis,
splenic infarcts, avascular necrosis, and eventually acute chest syndrome with
a dangerously low haemoglobin level.
Here, a new truth emerged: healing is co-created. It
is not the doctor alone, but the collaboration between physician and patient,
between clinical precision and emotional intelligence, that truly restores
health. Guided by a constellation of medical experts—Dr Chitralekha, Dr. Akashdeep, Dr. Mahadev
Swamy, Dr. Praveen Bhat, and Dr.Ashwini, —the journey became a case history of
partnership.
Health is not just treatment. It is trust. It is active
listening. It is the patient’s courage to speak, question, and follow through.
It is family love, especially from a devoted spouse and daughters who never let
the light go dim.
She was more than a doctor—she was a compass when the path grew uncertain.
Combining clinical intellect with deep empathy, Dr. Chitralekha listened not just to symptoms, but to the soul behind them. With her strong and unflinching approach rooted in the belief that “the patient comes first,” she bridged communication across departments, ensured continuity of care, and held space for the patient’s anxieties and aspirations.
As a boundary spanner, she played a pivotal role in co-creation: helping align treatments not just with protocols, but with what mattered most to the individual—dignity, hope, and informed decisions.
Her ability to see the whole picture and act decisively saved not just time, but peace of mind. Her presence affirmed that healthcare isn’t just about treatment—it’s about trust, presence, and relational intelligence.
Phase 3: Return to Roots – The Pulse of Home
Sometimes, to heal, we must go home. In the quiet halls of
the VSS Sickle Cell Research Centre, under the empathetic gaze of Dr. Patel, a
deeper clarity emerged—not just of diagnosis, but of identity.
Home carries not only heritage but insight. The soil of
one’s birth can echo the pulse more precisely. It reminded him: illness may be
chronic, but its management is deeply personal. Listening to one’s body is as
vital as listening to one’s doctor.
Phase 4: Precision and Perspective – The Mumbai Interlude
Five days in Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital (Last week of May. 2025) with Dr. Zakir
Udwadia with Dr Shyam brought rigorous tests and renewed hope. Sleep studies, walk tests,
CTs, and blood panels painted a detailed portrait of the body’s battle—but also
of its extraordinary will to fight.
Dr. Zakir, with his precision, offered more than
prescriptions—he offered clarity. A six-month plan, not just to manage the
illness but to reclaim the rhythm of life. This phase underscored an important
lesson: chronic disease needs structured patience. Healing is a slow dance, not
a sprint.
Phase 5: Rebuilding – The Rehab of Resilience
The final—and ongoing—chapter is not written with medicines,
but with movement and mindfulness. Under the care of a CIPLA rehab team, in a
group of six strangers united by breath and burden, strength began to return.
Yoga mats, deep inhales, therapy sessions, and guided
movements replaced the hospital bed. The pulmonary therapist did more than
coach lungs—they helped rebuild a life. Surrounded by others—some younger, some
older—he realized: vulnerability is not weakness. It is the bridge to healing.
Through shared stories and sweat, laughter and leg pain,
resilience blossomed. Not loud and dramatic—but quiet, steady, and profoundly
transformative.
- On
Life: It is uncertain, yet breathtaking. We are not promised ease, but
we are gifted with grace.
- On
Love: It sustains where medicine ends. A supportive wife, loving
daughters, and attentive friends are the real prescriptions.
- On
Health: It is not the absence of disease, but the presence of
balance—between body, mind, and soul.
- On
Co-Creation: Healing is not a solo act. It is a chorus—of doctors,
nurses, family, therapists, and most importantly, the self.
- On Resilience: Every setback is a setup for a stronger comeback. Illness may bend the spirit, but love and purpose straighten it again.
- In this long road, I’ve come to value not only doctors with sharp minds, but those with open hearts. Among them, Dr. Chitralekha stood out—her ability to span boundaries of specialty, communication, and emotional understanding played a quiet yet transformative role in my recovery. Her principle that “the patient comes first” was not a slogan—it was a way of being.
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