Medicines and Miracles
The butterfly effect is an example of how the smallest of actions can change the course of one's life and even history. Every day, each step we take, every decision we make, and every action we take or abort, impacts our life and plays a major role in that of others around us.
It had been over a week since the incident with the patient and Mehr was finally settling in the new environment. The idea of a krankenhaus (hospital in Deutsch) being a workspace was rather new to her. The new work opportunity had brought her new acquaintances and new challenges. Life was taking an interesting turn, and today was going to be the day she starts her independent assignment. She started her system and laid down her notepad neatly by the side, laying down her to do list for the day, and tasks for the week. She was determined to be productive, and started typing away at her system. Her euphoria was shortlived when the lady at the reception, Mamta approached her.
"Madam, ek patient ka family aaya hai, aapko puchh ra hai".
"Mujhe? Aap galat Mehr k pas to nahi aagye? Dr. Gur-Mehr ko puchha hoga unhone"
"Nahi madam, aapko hi bula rahey hai. Doctor se puchh k aaye hain".
"Okay, main aati hu". Mehr locked her system and walked towards the waiting area, curious as to what she might have coming.
It was the same patient care taker she had crossed paths with on her first day. Seeing her, he sprung to his feet in, and folded his hands in a greeting coupled with a request it seemed. He was preparing to ask for a favour too big to ask a complete stranger.
"Hello Sir, I hope your mother is doing well". Mehr asked sheepishly, unsure of how to respond.
"Madam", The man spoke in trembling words, eyes damp. "My mother doesn't have much time. She is already in her late nineties, and she has been terminally ill for the past two years. . . . ." His voice trailed off , drawing a deep sigh.
"Sir, your doctor can guide you better. I told you before, and I'm telling you again. I am not qualified to provide any medical advice." Mehr pleaded, trying to get out of the conversation. She knew the man was in emotional pain but, she needed to be professional with her advice and conduct. Going astray could be consequential to the patient as well as staff both. She had been trained for such situations and yet here she was feeling terrible when faced with one in-real.
"I am not asking for any medical advice from you, I need you to visit my mother, in the ward. I still remember how she smiled that day she saw you, it had been ages since I last saw her like that". The man had hope in his eyes.
All he could see in this woman was a hope to give his ailing mother a few fleeting moments of happiness in her final days. Living away from home all his life, he felt guilty of her condition. She had yearned to be with him all her life. While he had spent his years away from his parents in a different country, chasing his dreams for a better life. Life had come full circle when he walked in her shoes after both his daughters left the house for higher education and employment opportunities.
Mehr had asked him to confirm with Dr. Saivini before agreeing to anything. Not losing hope the man trudged back to the waiting lounge, watching over his mother from a distance. He could see her chest rise and fall as she slept under heavy sedation. The monitors attached to her body vitals sensor showed a feeble heartrate and blood pressure. It was difficult to say whether the young lady he pleaded with earlier would give in to his pleadings or stay firm. He had been a realist all his life, but in this moment he was forced to accept the esoteric aspects of life which his mother strongly subscribed to all her life. While he had her admitted in the most scientifically equipped healthcare division, money could buy, he also hired Pranic healers to appease the old woman. Somehow, the past ten days had convinced him in favour of foregoing his rationale and ignited a spark of faith in the divine. He signed away waivers and made all payments to ensure on his end to convince the staff to give in to his plea. Folding his hands, he prayed the doctors would agree to his request and send Miss Mehr for a small meeting with his mother.
Mehr was informed later in the day that she would need to visit the patient ward on 1029, after the medical team evaluated the patient status and did a re-consultation with the old lady's son. As much as Mehr dreaded the situation, in her heart she wanted to be of any and all help she could.
Walking slowly behind Dr. Saivini, Mehr folded her hands to greet the old lady, now propped against the head board with the support of pillows. The nurse in-charge adjusted the bed to make her comfortable. Mehr took a chair close to the lady, and spoke softly. The two talked about a life in some distant village, the old woman laughed in between stressed breaths, holding her oxygen mask to allow for her face to move. Bonding over stories of a bygone era, the old lady seemed to have gained strength as she tried moving her hands to imitate some of her dance moves from youth. Dr. Saivini overlooked the meeting with a courteous nod and the nurse in-charge also smiled and encouraged the prima donna in her to come out.
The son, simply smiled through teary eyes and looked at the two chatter. This was a sight he had been longing for, for months and years to no avail. Medicines had helped his mother survive, but these ladies had brought her alive, the way he had remembered her before cancer and dementia collectively took her away. He felt humbled, and thanked the almighty for giving him a chance to see his ailing mother light up with joy, probably for the last time given her fragile condition that he had been warned about.
The next day, Mehr sat in her office typing away maniacally trying to meet a deadline while proof reading a document, when the news came; Patient in 1092 passed away in her sleep. Mehr looked up to the bearer of news, it was the nurse in-charge from yesterday. Sending out her urgent mail, Mehr got up from her seat only to fall back in her chair. As much as she had tried to remain aloof, the brief meeting had made her connect with Kamleshwari ji, the patient in ward 1092. The nurse patted her back gently and gave her some water before leaving, she knew the job came with it's own baggage.
Mehr decided to get some fresh air in the garden on the ground floor, where she ran into the old lady's son. Surprised by the unintended run-in, she conveyed her condolences to the man.
"Please don't be sorry. In fact, aapko main thank you karna chahta tha" The man replied calmly.
[Mehr looked at him in disbelief and confusion, the news of the patient's loss had rattled Mehr because memories of her grandmother came pouring in on her. She had not been able to say goodbye to her and now this elderly patient was gone. There was unexplained internal turmoil which maybe Dr. Saivini could help her with, she wondered if she too needed some counselling .]
Having sensed her dilemma, the man added, "We knew this was coming, her age and medical history had me prepared to some extent, it's difficult no doubt, but definitely not an unforeseen surprise. What we did not expect was to see her smile and live up, even if momentarily. But Dr. Saivini and you did it. So I am grateful to you both, i met her and now i got to meet you in person too. Thank you madam."
"Sir please don't call me madam. I am not a doctor, and I did not do anything." Mehr protested.
"Bachche aapne kisi jaatey hue ko sukoon aur khushi de di. Usse zyada main kya mangu. God bless you" The man held her hand in both of his with strong gratitude before leaving.
Mehr stood in the lobby, frozen and dumbfounded. She was glad to have been of help, and also feeling a sense of peace wash over her as she unwounded the situation in her head. She had been able to use stories of her grandmother to help this old lady relate. While they had talked, she had drawn out excerpts from memories of bygone era which she had only heard about from her grandparents. Regardless, those musings of woven tales had eased the pain of a dying woman.
At the same time, she realized that bidding farewell to an ailing patient who had reminded her of her grandmother, [which was an act she had not been privy to at the time] she had gotten a chance to acknowledge and momentarily live that emotion. Thus helping her accept her grief as well. Mehr folded her hands in gratitude towards the universal power, running the scenes. She took a short stroll around the flower beds adorning the entrance to the garden before she walked back to the building after her shrink walk of self realization [In her head she was the shrink, the patient and the audience all at once, thus the name].
Coming home, Mehr could not help herself but think out loud. Maybe Dr. Saivini was right, there really is more to life than just the facts we see. After all, the human eye is privy to only a fraction of the spectra, there is still so much to understand. Not everything can be put into words. What matters is being able to spread happiness and bring relief to those in need, everything else is immaterial. Mehr decided to fish out the booklet she had been handed over by Dr. Saivini and read through it again before she reconnected with her old friend who had been training in Praanik healing at the Art of Being and practices the form for fun.
Continued from Part 1
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