We have been getting a spate of well-off patients for palliative care.By God's grace all of them have been doing well,one gentleman with pontine bleed was with us through three crashes and then went home eating,responding and talking a few words.We now have two patients in the private ward,one with terminal cancer and the other with brainstem haemorhage who sailed past a deadly pneumonia which was resistent to everything but Teigacycline and colistin.The bystanders are determined to support him through everything.
Today one more patient was brought to us with sub-dural haematoma post-head injury.The patient was all of eighty five,from the village and stone deaf.He had been admitted in Jabalpur medical college but after six days of admission without any explanation the relatives had had it so they had come over to our hospital.Nobody had explained what was happening.The patient had been on fluids and enroute to our hospital the son had given him an apple and some water which he had tolerated.
The CT scan showed sub-dural haematoma of around 20% but no mid-line shift.The patient continued to have a neck pain.
Their papers from Jabalpur were expected so while we awaited the papers I explained things to them and got about doing a brief neurological test on him.
I wanted to examine the grasp reflex so somehow I was trying to communicate to him what he was supposed to do.
He managed to understand what he was supposed to do and while he held on to my hand tears started streaming down from both his eyes.
I was dumbstruck so were the relatives.I doubt if he heard my reassurances,words empty words but somehow he felt comforted enough in the touch.
What a privelage it is to be in a profession like this.Every day you come face to face with suffering at such close quarters and everyday one comes face to face with God's immense compassion amidst hopelessness.
Praise God for His grace and mercy which keeps us because we are His children.
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