Liz, who had always been terrified of hospitals, injections and doctors was now on the threshold of having to go through the gauntlet of facing all her nightmares collectively. She checked into the Life Care Hospital on the appointed day i.e. 18th Feb. Her angiography was slated at 10.30 pm Dr. Sameer Dani was to perform a peripheral angiography on both her legs. I phoned her just before she was wheeled into the procedure room she seemed okay and was very positive about the whole thing; her reassuring voice put some of my apprehensions to rest.
The next day the team at the Life Care discussed the pros and cons about the impending amputation that would be conducted on Liz later in the day. Dr. Samir Nanavati, a young and experienced orthopaedic specialist was to be her doctor to perform the operation. As Liz had been on blood thinners they had to postpone her operation for the next day. When Dr.Samir and his team met Liz for the first time his lively disposition and the zeal that he portrayed had a very positive effect on Liz. This in itself was a soothing balm for a troubled individual who had to undergo the surgeon’s knife. Amputation is one of the most emotionally upsetting and traumatic events that a patient can undergo, it was for this reason I did not insist she undergo the operation the first time I had admitted her into the same hospital a month earlier.
Even though I was laid up in bed in Abu, my thoughts revolved around the amputation that was going to be performed on my beloved. I phoned my friends, my batch of class mates who settled down in Ahmedabad and my ex-students who had studied under me. I had requested them to arrange for some donors to donate blood. I was impressed with the overwhelming response from all of them. Not only did they come forward immediately to heed to my request, but went out of their way to make Liz feel at home, some prayed over her while others spent a few hours laughing and joking with the others present there. Some of my mates offered financial help which was very generous on their part. I thanked all of them for being there for Liz and I, the only thing I wanted was some blood to tide her over in case of an emergency. I know I should not be too critical of the blood banks but, well that’s the way I am.
All tests had been preformed, and enough blood had been donated, Dr. Nanavati had briefed Jennifer and Rita on what procedure he was going to follow. I was gradually recovering from my triple barrel blast of UTI, typhoid and malaria. That night Mohan kept me company past midnight, he was concerned as my fever always came up around this time of the night. Liz’s operation was slated around mid-day. The next day she phoned me just before they wheeled her into the operation theatre. My heart skipped a beat and I felt my throat go dry I was lost for words. Then I heard the words of a confident “woman”, you, take care Ains I’m going to be all right I’m in real safe hands. Will talk to you after the operation and don’t forget to take your medication. Rita told me Liz showed real courage and fortitude, even the team who wheeled her in were blown by her positive attitude. The Only requests she made of Dr. Nanavati was to be given a sleeping dose shortly after the local anaesthesia for the lower portion of her body had been administered , the angiography was bad enough to witness but she was not prepared to watch her own amputation. The operation went off without a hitch.
Later in the day the doctors paid a visit to see how Liz was doing, Liz seemed to be in high spirits. She even laughed and joked with her amputee. She phoned me later that night and seemed in a positive frame of mind. I never felt so relieved, my fever that had been plaguing me all these days had disappeared and my rigours had also subsided. I recovered pretty fast, from a liquid diet I gradually moved onto solids. Liz would be hospitalised for a week I had presumed, to recoup from her ordeal.
Rita kept in constant contact with me, she told me Liz was progressing pretty well, but that she had not come to terms with the fact that her leg had been amputated, she kept saying that her foot was paining and to please massage the calf that was not there . After speaking to my Dr. and getting feedback, I phoned Rita and told her Liz was going through a sensation known as Phantom limb sensation. Phantom limb sensation is the feeling that the amputated limb is still present; most amputees experience this to some degree. For some it is so bad that that they have to resort to medical care. Liz was discharged on the 25th Feb. She’s now home with me and is recovering pretty well, she has learnt to use the walker pretty well, she no longer depends on any of us to do her daily chores, she hobbles around on the walker. Dr.Sharma drops in regularly to do her dressing.
Life alters one’s life style completely when one loses a limb. Getting accustommed to a new lifestyle and habits is an uphill task. All the same, there are ways to deal with such a loss. Liz knows we are there for her and she has resigned herself to looking forward to life with its ups and downs. She now occupies her time reading, watching TV and two to three hours helping the students with their lessons.
My Special thanks to all MY Mates for being there For Liz & self.
"Happy Easter" to one and all
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