Faith

We always want to have things to happen in a particular way.  It may or may not happen as we wish.  But certain times it will happen as we want. That gives us faith in Almighty and prayers.

It was many years ago.  We are new in the locality.  There are quite a few houses around our home –cum - nursing home.  I have cordial relations with neighbours.  They sometimes disturb me at odd times.  If I can help I would, otherwise direct them what to do or where to go.  I never go for a family visit for medical care.  One day a gentleman, residing in the neighbourhood had come to me at about 11 AM.  He requested me to visit his uncle’s house which is also in my neighbourhood.  He said that his uncle’s mother seems to be dead and wanted me to asses the condition.  I couldn’t say no.  From his voice and expressions I could understand that the woman is dead and they just need confirmation by a doctor.  I went to his uncle’s house along with him.  His uncle, aunt and another woman were waiting for me without any expressions in their faces.  His aunt told me that, her “mother-in-law just had her break fast and lied on the table.  I wanted to talk to her but she did not respond and we moved her and thought she is lifeless”.  I saw a woman lying on wide long table that is used either to sit or sleep.  The woman was still, lying on her back, her mouth half open and eyes partially closed.  I took her hand and tried to feel the pulse and at the same time watching for her chest movements to know the respiration.  Pulse could not be felt.  I put two fingers near her nostrils to feel respiration.  It wasn’t there.  Then I auscultated for heart sounds without any positive result.  Finally checked eyes throwing torch light and see for pupils which are irreversibly fully dilated on death.  I told that there are no signs of life in her, death had occurred less than an hour ago, and I walked out.  To announce a death is sometimes part of my profession, but this is always depressing.

  After two months or so once again this same man had come to my home in the morning at about 9 AM.  At that time I was in my spiritual activity.  He again requested me to come to another relative’s house that is right in front of our house across the road.  There also I have to confirm death of an old lady in the family.  I was the only doctor around at that time and did not know how to refuse.  I only prayed God that the woman should be alive.  I was scared to become a death declaring doctor in the locality.  All the way to their home I was praying that the woman should be alive, let death be postponed till later in the evening, when my husband will be at home and declare it.  When I entered the house an old lady was lying on sleeping table.  One of the family members told me that the woman lying on table is her mother-in-law; she is suffering from cancer which affected her brain also.  For the past few minutes she is not responding to them and not taking respiration.  I tried to feel for the pulse.  As I was checking for pulse there was the woman gasped. I was glad to see that.  I could feel the pulse too, which is feeble.  The woman had taken another gasp.  And then I could see her heavy respiratory movements.  I told them she is alive and in coma, to take her to Medical college hospital for treatment.  They were all silent and I walked out happily.   Late in the afternoon my husband was called, and he had declared death. 

I don’t think that the woman was dead when they called me.  May be there was transient respiratory arrest from which she recovered spontaneously.  But this incident reinforced my faith in prayer and meditation.