My concern now was, how long could I avoid the inevitable, of making Liz see that the only answer to her prayers was an early amputation. Liz is a firm believer in her religion and I used this as a physiological leverage to ease her anxiety. I search the internet for novenas and prayers on my mobile so that she could occupy herself in praying, and hoping that everything would work out for the best. While in the hotel I passed my time taking some shots of birds and whatever caught my fancy. Liz seemed okay all day long as she had her grandchildren for company, but as it neared dinner time I noticed her becoming uncomfortable, she tried to make it to the loo but could not manage by herself and had to be helped. I could read the anxiety in her face, even though she tried to hide it with that beautiful smile of hers.
The next day we were to drive back to Abu but providence had other things in store for us. I had bent down to pour myself a cup of tea and found I could not stand up as I had acute pain in my lower back. I shuffled to the bed and sat down, I then lay on my back with my legs drawn up with the help of pillows. The pain was intense if I tried to move, I phoned my doctor who prescribed some pain killers. Christina brought the medicines and volunteered to massage my back. I figured it was just some muscular spasm caused by my tense state of well being. I took the pain killers and hoped everything would be okay. In the evening I felt much better I could move about but the pain was bad. I was dreading the journey by road back to Abu, as I knew the slightest jolt would send shivers down my back. Liz’s condition also seemed to be taking a turn for the worse. Her foot could not take her weight and she had to be helped to the toilet.
Our journey to Abu was fairly comfortable, Jennifer had the place all laid out for Liz with heaters and the soft aroma of fresh roses wafted through the cosy room. Liz wanted me to also bed down there but I had to decline as I had to get home and get our house back into ship shape and prepare for the coming session of our students. That night when I got home I found my Basset Hound ‘Bosky’ in a bad shape, she was not well and the maid at home told me she had not touched food for the last three days. I treated her with the homeopathic medicines prescribed by the vet. I did not sleep too well that night, I tossed and turned and felt very uncomfortable, I could feel a fever coming on.
On the 31st of Jan, I paid my Dr. a visit and told him I felt like a fish out of water. He prescribed some medication and told me it probably was viral fever. During the first week of Feb, I shunted back and forth between the two houses. The days were quite pleasant but the nights were cold, the temperature hovering just above the 0omark. My condition had turned worse by the 6th Feb; I phoned Dr. and told him that I was now being plagued with heavy bouts of shivering so once again my medication was changed.
On the 7th of Feb when I visited Liz, as usual, she seemed okay, but Jennifer told me that all was not well. She said that Liz was going through hell and that she was behaving very strangely, and at night she was saying things that made no sense, she kept rambling that she wanted to go home. Her strange behaviour began to scare Jennifer; I told Jennifer it must be the drugs and the heavy sleeping doses that must have made her delirious. Liz’s days and nights were now filled with pain, fitful slumber and anguish. She displayed a variety of moods each over shadowed by tears. “I’m so sick and tired of this leg of mine,” she sighed, struggling to sit up on her sore rump. I could feel her frustration and desperation now as the dry gangrene began to manifest itself in her foot. I knew time was fast running out for Liz, if she did not go in for the amputation her heavy doses of painkillers and the pain itself would drive her berserk. Liz’s nightmares had returned to haunt her like some demon from the past.
The next two days i.e., the 8 and 9 Feb were the worst days of my life. The shivering bouts that came on lasted for an hour or so each time, I began to run a constant temperature. A sample of my blood was to be collected on the 9th to be taken to the lab for investigation, but the lab technician did not turn up. Out of desperation I phoned Dr.Sharma and told him of my dilemma, he instructed me to start on the treatment of malaria immediately. I took the first dose bang at mid-night, as the second dose would have to be taken at 6 in the morning. My brother in law Jimmy along with my brother Aubs had come to visit me on the 10th, I was like a washed out rag. I asked Jimmy to drive me to the Global hospital for a blood test.
My E.S.R had gone to 120 and my W.B.C count had shot through the roof 18400, my urine WBC showed more than 100/HPF. My doctors’ prognosis was “Ains seems like you have the 1 stage of Typhoid and heavy UTI”. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I had taken all precautions while in Ahmedabad and here I was being diagnosed with UTI and typhoid. I was now restricted to my bed and had to follow a strict regime of medication and diet. Mohan, a good friend and companion was there for me. He kept me company through thick and thin. He and Jennifer kept me informed on Liz’s condition. Her condition had gone from bad to worse, and my falling ill had made it even more of a hell for her. My temperature and my rigors continued till the 15th hence I went in for another blood test. My blood test now showed that I had malaria, for which I was now given some painful shots in my rump over the next three days.
There was more bad news on the horizon, the vet was out of station and my basset had taken a turn for the worse. On the morning of the 12th she asked to be let out early in the morning, I was far too weak to accompany her so the maid’s daughter let her out. At lunch I asked how ‘Bosky’ was, they told me she was resting on the leaves under the bushes in front of the house. I then instructed them to give her some water. When they went to her they found that she had passed away. Time stood still, here I was fighting to get well and then this, even a ton of bricks could not have had so bad an effect on my psyche as the passing away of my beloved female Basset. I knew this would have a disastrous effect on Liz as she doted on this dog of ours. I asked all to keep this under wraps and not to let Liz know of if at this time, but that evening in the course of conversation Jennifer blurted it out and Liz burst out crying, anyway everything happens for the best. It could have been worse if the dog had gone through agonizing days of pain and a decision to put her to sleep physically.
Day 13, Saturday, Liz’s condition was now real bad, I knew I had to do something soon, I was desperate as my sickness had bogged me down and I had to take a decision right away. My friends, who are doctors, spread over the globe, and who had been through all her reports advised me not to delay any longer. Out of sheer desperation I dragged myself out of bed and banged a mail to my dear friends’, the Newnes on Valentine’s Day. They phoned me immediately and said Rita would make it to Ahmedabad any time after the 18th Feb. I phoned Liz and asked her if she was ready to go to Ahmedabad and that Rita would be there for her. Liz who had had enough of the pain over the last fortnight was mentally and physically prepared to go in for the amputation. I immediately phoned Life Care Hospital and made all arrangements for Liz’s operation. The angiography of both her legs was slated for the 18th Feb to be followed by the amputation the following day. I rang and told Derek that everything was set up. He said Rita would leave Mumbai on the 18th morning and join Liz in the evening at Life Care Hospital.
I had made all arrangements for Liz’s departure for Ahmedabad on the 18th. The ambulance would pick her up at 9.30 in the morning. Jennifer and her brother Chirag would be accompanying her in the ambulance. The evening before she left I dropped in to see her, she burst out crying and I could see the anguish written all over her face. This would be the first time she would be going to the hospital without me. As I was not feeling too well I kissed her goodnight and promised to see her in the morning before she left for Ahmedabad.
The ambulance came at the scheduled time. We carried Liz into it and made her comfortable. I wished her a safe journey and told her not to worry everything would work out and she would come back a happier person. I wanted to desperately go with her to be there for her but it would have been sheer stupidity as I was still due my pokes and I would probably have been more of a hindrance than a help if anything happened to me.
Liz’s right foot August 2008
The same foot Feb 2010 Life Care Hospital
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