Emotional Moment In My Career

It was almost nearing night when I returned after my subcenter visits. I noticed there was a small crowd around ten people waiting in front of my hospital (Primary Health Centre). I knew it must be due to a maternal emergency. Other types of urgent cases were quite rare. My suspicion was confirmed by the presence of the maternity assistant who normally is responsible to take care of such cases. I could sense the anxiety and tension manifest on her face. I also felt my arrival had brought immense relief to her.

I hastened to the labor room followed by maternity assistant. There I found a young woman of around twenty years with a newborn baby near her. Quick examination revealed her general condition good. I was informed by the maternity assistant that the woman had delivered about forty-five minutes back, which was a normal delivery; but the afterbirth(placenta) had not been expelled and it appeared to be retained within the uterine cavity.

I sensed that this woman needed to be shifted to a hospital with facilities of blood transfusion and specialist care. I discussed the mode of treatment required, with the husband and promised all help, as he was a poor farmer. Without further delay, I shifted the woman along with her husband to the nearby taluk hospital in the UNICEF jeep of the health center. I also accompanied the patient. Within thirty to thirty-five minutes, we were able to reach the hospital. Upon reaching, I was doubly glad that the medical officer on duty was a woman with years of experience.

The patient was at once wheeled into the operation theatre of the hospital. I stayed outside along with the husband comforting him and assuring that with God’s grace things should become alright. After about forty-five minutes, the lady doctor emerged from the theatre with a sad look on her face to convey the demise of the patient despite her best efforts. I was informed that the patient had torrential hemorrhage and went into irreversible shock followed by death. Both me and the husband were devastated.

Normally the body of dead patients will only be released during daytime. The lady doctor was kind enough to hand over the body of the dead woman overlooking this formality. Unfortunately, I could not transport the dead body of the woman back to the village in the jeep we came in, as the vehicle should be used as an ambulance only, and not as a mortuary van. The poor farmer had no money on his person as he had left urgently with me. I came to his rescue and arranged for a taxi with instructions that in case of any police check he should state that he was taking his wife back home from the hospital as her condition had deteriorated and there was no chance for recovery. I felt extreme pity for him at that moment.

Two years later, I was leaving the primary health Centre for higher studies. A farewell was arranged at the local school Maidan by the villagers. At the end of the function as I was about to leave, a man prostrated at my feet crying. I realized that he was the same man who had lost his wife. I made him get up and to my surprise he handed me a cover containing Rs 100/. With tears in his eyes and broken voice he stuttered that he owed the money which I had paid for bringing his dead wife back home earlier. I had no answer except to tightly embrace him and shed tears like a child.

 

Thanks for your response. I can understand how dearly your students loved you. Without sincerity and devotion in our profession, we can never come across such experiences

 

Ms RG Srinivasan, Thanks for your appreciation. Yes, it happened fifty years back. I do not imagine such love and affection is possible at present times.

 

Thanks Ms Ashima for your nice comments. The slogan you have mentioned is absolutely necessary in present day.

 

Mrs Pushpavalli Srinivasan,Thanks for your encouraging response. My parents and my teachers played great roles for my sincerity and humanness in my profession.