Miracles Do Happen-From Malignant to Benign

A story of faith and hope

Not being a product of strict religious beliefs and having a family from various parts of India and abroad, my journey in the armed forces of India for four decades was a seamless transition. Gita, my life partner for 46 years too came from a similar mixed family. Consequently we had our own freedom to follow and practice what appealed to each of us-that included the faith that our children followed.

The first time I used the word miracle was when Sam, our African Grey, flew away from our home and was found 18 kms away after a month, that too in the  most crowded part of our city. No one could scientifically or logically explain how we were reunited and hence the word miracle.

Some years down the line, Gita became a diabetic which was discovered in a routine bi annual blood test  that we opted to do. It came as a surprise to all that a perfectly healthy individual was afflicted with blood sugar levels of phenomenally high levels- virtually overnight. The endocrinologist began the medication as a routine measure. About a few months later she developed symptoms which cloned drug reactions to the medication commonly prescribed for diabetes. Aversion to food, bloated sensation, loss of weight and nausea followed in quick succession. These were attended to by various specialists but the pain increased with time till she could not tolerate it. Modern diagnostic tools of ultra sound, endoscopy etc, revealed nothing. Her blood reports were as perfect as ever.

It was at this stage, I sought the intervention of the Naval Hospital INHS Asvini located about 180 kms from my town. First handed over to the navy in 1952, this hospital had grown both in quality and size to become one of the most modern and efficient hospitals of India. I was to consult a very impressive, articulate and  communicative specialist in the medical field. An immediate CT scan was suggested even before I moved my wife to Mumbai.

The moment of realisation followed the CT Scan undertaken by a very reputed private hospital. It revealed the presence of a fairly well developed tumour in the pancreas. Traces were seen in the liver too. Question- how do I communicate this to her when she was already in considerable pain? Trained to assess pros and cons of all possible options before arriving at the best course of action, I decided to move her to Asvini and in small installments to prepare her for the worst case during the journey by road. We now knew what caused the agony but were yet to discover the damage caused within.

Quite unexpectedly, she took it in the chin much like a seasoned boxer. "OK", she said, "I have it, so let us get on with the biopsy". I realised then and there that we had won half the battle. The battery of oncologists and medical experts who received us at INHS Asvini, well after working hours, quickly poured over her case sheet and evaluated all the radio-logical documents. It looked ominous and many were leaning towards the worst conclusion. However, the biopsy was the only way to pronounce a judgement. The  immediate family was informed.

Then followed an even more grueling week of repeated efforts to reach the main source located at a critical junction of the pancreas. Having exhausted all scan aided procedures and after due consultations with other experts in the field, surgery was the only option to tap the requisite material for biopsy. In the mean time, PET scan revealed that there was no damage to the liver as suggested by the first CT scan.

Post surgery, Gita had to be observed at the ICU for at least 24 hrs while the pathologist commenced the lab tests. When it rains, it often pours during monsoons at Mumbai. At about  6AM the next day I was informed that  my wife had severe chest pain and that the cardiologist would need to eliminate any heart condition, since she had lived with a minor one all her life. The CO who is a renowned cardiologist had just arrived the previous night and was on his morning run which took him to the ICU. Within the hour she had been moved to the cardiology ward and an angiography completed. Things that were not possible during my days in the navy. Cleared of all doubts she was wheeled back to the ICU

Back in the ward after three days at ICU, we now had to await the results of biopsy. Ramzan was round the corner and a long week end much needed for the Doctors and staff was a necessity. We decided to move Gita to my son's house for the week end. Just when we were ready to depart, there was a cryptic message that the chief coordinator and the Doctor I had alluded to earlier, would like a word with us. My son, daughter-in-law and the two of us were seated in the room which reminded me of those who await their sentence.

The smart, well turned out and composed Surgeon Captain who had assumed the role of our guardian entered the room and with his characteristic communication skills, began to sum up the case. "The good news is" he said, "the tumour is benign, but the bad news is that it is there and has led to a non functional pancreas with all its attendant ramifications". It had to be medically treated and a close watch kept on the patient.

It took a few seconds for all of us to digest his message. My daughter-in-law broke the ice by rushing and hugging Gita. I stood still as I was trained to. My wife had a smile as if to say what else when so many are praying for me. All in all it was a solemn and almost a military occasion when emotions were to be exhibited in private.

The Doctor was inundated with questions about the future. He invited more, till all were answered. My wife asked, "What are the odds when such a result, defying predictions, occurs? Is it a miracle?"

The seasoned Doctor, by now well accepted within the family, smiled and said, " You can say that Ma'am-you can say that!". Hence the story.