I
Discharge report said ,’avoid cough’; so I sneezed!
And I died a quarter-millionth of a second and saw heaven ; only to realize that I had come back to hell.I could feel the upturn of organs inside and the stitch inside expanding like rubber band to hit back in the gut..All happening in slow -mo(to give u the effect).
Minor change in doc report – avoid cough and sneeze.
II
Gauze.Required for wound.Immediately. So I passed the message verbally to my dad’s driver. Dad sent him for the same a little while later since they were out.He comes back in half with a wide smile on his face saying,”I got two of it ,just in case.”
Poor guy thought he had actually done it right this time without my dad riding him up the wall while the rest of us at home had a fit of laughter checking out the set of Gloves he got me!!
III
After surgical ICU day,I was brought to hospital room to be under observation.I was heavily sedated and everything was a haze.I remember this happening for two straight days.No food,no water.Just IV fluids and a load of intravenous injections.The head nurse visited me everyday at regular intervals.She inquired with mom about my status,would motivate me to sit up at times etc.But there was one specific thing she wanted to know every time she came and I always had a negative response.Her inquiring made me wanna make it happen urgently because it meant I could start having soups,tea n liquid foods..
And it happened on the third night when my mom was fast asleep,tearing the silence of the room with a nasty smell and me grinning on the hospital bed like an excited child!!
IV
Fifth day after surgery,nurses were confident I could bathe with a little help.By then,they made sure I lost all my coyness around people; with all the early morning scrubs they gave me.Damn!Thankfully,there were no male nurses,so I was super confident around mom..And she helped me get water from bucket while I sat on toilet seat.(wondering now why they didn’t have seats for patients to sit and take a bath)Now this is a very stupid thing I did:I didn’t close the lid before I sat,thinking I might pee..And so we lost a Pears soap into the closet at the outset of the first bath after surgery.But I was more irked by the longest time I had to wait for a soap.
V
Beginning with an apology for making this post an emotional one.I have been on a wild ride,so bear with me.
Actually,lotta gratitude gushing in today with those damn mood swings.So here goes:
Heart swells with overwhelming gratitude when I remember my doctors,for being so warm and gentle and being extremely patient with my irritating and dumb doubts.
Shout-out to all the nurses ,and canteen fellas who made sure I got my daily doses of injections ,meds,soups,tea and fresh fruit juices all on time.
Appreciate all my friends and relatives who kept a check on me,who took out time to visit me and made me smile through it.
The 3 most important men in my life-though you guys had no clue about the things I had to go through,I am very glad you gave moral support in your own silly ways.
Above all, my mom for being such a rock solid support on my faltering days,not giving up on my fits of rage and for being a BADASS all at the same time! Salut!