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| Kotli Falls, Kashmir |
The funny thing about being stuck in quarantine is that when
you have nothing else to do, long forgotten memories from ages ago come
flooding into your mind. Here is one such memory from about 7 years ago.
One fine day my youngest started experiencing sudden stomach
ache of such intensity that she caused panic in the entire household. The kids
and I had been visiting my sister in law and her family who at that time were
stationed in a picturesque Kashmiri town near the Indian border. An immediate
trip to the local CMH ensued where I presented my daughter’s medical
eligibility card. But to the young doctors sitting in OPD, the fact that I had
come as a guest of the Commandant Brigadier had more weightage than the fact
that we were the family of a deceased officer. Hence, they were eager to outdo
themselves regarding diagnosis and treatment.
Now I have all the respect for doctors. They are
practitioners of a noble profession. But there is something about over efficient
doctors that makes me wary of them, especially so, after this incident.
The diagnosis was that my daughter was experiencing appendix
pain which needed to be operated upon immediately or dire consequences will
follow. A bed was instructed to be prepared for her and I was to ready her for
the operation that would take place that very day.
But before the operation, I had to bring some urine and
stool samples for testing.
Kind of Shell shocked by the news, I collected two empty
containers from the dispensary and took my little girl to the toilet area and
asked her to provide what was needed.
Now my little one has a very stubborn nature and even at the
age of ten she could put her foot down. She flatly refused to provide any such
sample for any such purpose.
A doctor scaring me with terrible consequences of negligence
concerning the timely removal of an appendix, a totally unexpected upcoming operation
in the next couple of hours and a stubborn ten year old refusing to cooperate,
was too much, even for me. I guess, I must have looked as haggard and mentally
harassed as I felt at that point.
My Brigadier brother in law’s army batman, who had been
accompanying me throughout and who till now had kept his mouth firmly shut
finally spoke up.
“Baji , bachhi ko ghar le ja kar lal dawai pila dain . Shaam
tak pait dard bilkul theek ho jae ga”
Sister, take the kid
home and give her some red medicine (a generic medicine given for stomach aches
in military hospitals). She will be fine by evening.
He had apparently thought this whole situation to be
pointlessly blown out of proportion but had refrained from saying so up till
now.
To be honest, I was not hundred percent convinced about the
necessity of having an operation but had given in because I felt that a doctor
would obviously know better.
At that point, the batman’s suggestion sounded like the
second opinion I was dying to hear. Even if this opinion had come from a low
educated batman, I decided to follow it.
I took my girl home and gave her some red medicine that I
took from the dispensary on my way back.
She was fine by evening.
And has been fine and “stomach ache free” for the past seven
years.
Looking back at the diagnosis of that idiot doctor and his hasty
preparations for appendectomy, I can’t help but think,
Would I have gone through with that point less operation if
that batman had not finally voiced his opinion?
So yes, speaking out your mind is important.
It can make such a big difference in someone’s life.
It can make such a big difference in someone’s life.
