MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRANS ASIAN SHIPPING SERVICES PVT LTD, AN POST, SEA PORT ROAD KAKKANAD, KOCHI

Each day is a bonus. It is neither a right nor a natural consequence, unless the all powerful Almighty decides so. Things can go totally haywire in a matter of seconds, before you can think twice. We went through such an ordeal last year in February. Johnson (JMK) my husband was admitted in lakeshore Hospital because he had a myocardial infarction. An angioplasty was done immediately and the stent was implanted successfully.

A second angioplasty was performed on the 10th and we were hoping that he would be discharged by the 12th. Unfortunately by midnight he developed a severe headache and weakness in his left arm and leg. S CT scan revealed that there was bleeding in the brain. Though I was thoroughly shaken and shattered, I kept a brave face, quite surprisingly, to all who knew us personally. We were called to the ICU and a panel of doctors explained the seriousness of the situation and the requirement of immediate brain surgery. The aspirin given after the angioplasties had had an adverse effect on Johnson and caused the bleeding in the brain. How could a life saving drug for millions cause such serious consequences in a few!. The Neurosurgeon explained very clearly and precisely shy the weakness had developed on his left arm and leg. It was because the bleeding had occurred on the right side of his brain. In hindsight, Johnson was lucky that the bleeding had developed on the right side. If it had been on the left it could have caused some serious long-term damages. We had no alternative but agree to the surgery at the earliest. We entrusted him in God's mighty hands. At that time I did not ask the name of the surgeon nor question his skills but believed God would take care of everything. I just trusted Him as a child trusts his father, without applying any logic or reason because I was constantly hearing from within to "Trust Me". After the surgery I was called inside to see Johnson. But to my utter dismay the surgeon was furious with me. While in surgery he had to attend innumerable phone calls from our doctor friends. He asked me not to disturb him and warned me that he would blast at such people id it was repeated. I had no answer except to apologize for our friends. He asked me not to disturb him and warned me that he would blast at such people if it was repeated. I had no answer except to apologize for our friends' actions. The doctor calmed sown and explained the medical condition to me and my family. It was then that I learned his name, Dr. Sai Sudarsan. Later on I realized the pressure the surgeon must have gone through. He was trying to save a life and at the same time address the concerns of doctors who called. Dr. Sai could successfully remove 60% of the clot, which was about 6cm in diameter, and the rest he hoped would drain out normally. He said they would do another scan on Monday to reconfirm. Dr. Sai was so reassuring and positive. He explained the medical situation so that even a layman could comprehend. We felt like God was using him as a very effective tool to protect my husband. I alsays preferred simple, straightforward communication instead of making the listener feeling confused and helpless. On Monday the Ct was repeated and we were called inside the surgical ICU. Dr. Sai asked us to sit down and explained how the bleeding hadn't stopped and the requirement for an emergency operation. The brain median had shifted to the right and the brain matter was compressed. I was speechless, all the energy and confidence drained out of me - my husband was going to be operated twice in the span of four days at the same spot in the brain! Tears welled inside my eyes, foreseeing the brain damage and I asked him what would be the consequences. I remembered how my sister was now completely bedridden after she had a brain stem hemorrhage six years ago. Dr. Sai was quick to answer and said, "brain stem hemorrhage is like cutting the stem/trunk of a tree, causing the tree to die or the stump to remain, but in the case of Johnson it is like a wound or a cut in one of the branches. His weakness of the left arm and leg may improve during the next few months, but be had to be operated at the earliest to save his life. "We had to give our consent for the second operation in ten minutes. I appreciated his openness and direct communication. Rather than beating around the bush he was very clear, not using medical terminologies that a layman couldn't understand. We were totally shaken but I said we would pray and get back to him about the second operation. Making a life of death decision was difficult and I desperately longed for my husband to make it for me, but I knew he could not utter a word or help me in any way: it had to he made by me alone. We prayed desperately and I heard the voice repeatedly saying again and again to "trust me". When Abi, a friend of mine, asked me what answer I got I said nothing specific but just "trust me". Yes that is more than sufficient: we only have to trust Him and let the doctors do what they can. While giving the consent for operation we assured Dr. Sai that we would wait outside but continuously pray for him and his team. He once again reassured us and said, "Yes ma' am your prayers will work." We were so thankful that the surgeon was depending on the mighty Doctor than on his technical and medical expertise. God did not give me enough time to think about the other options like airlifting him to avail of a better medical facility, or to work out options possible by human means. Rather He made me so desperate, weak and humble to lean on him than one the possibilities that man and money could buy. He wanted to bring my family so close to Him, depending on Him 100% first than on the facilities that He has bestowed upon us! I realized my faith was being strengthened by passing through this ordeal and that He would do no harm to my husband but he would be completely healed. A few hours after surgery. When I visited him in the surgical ICU I did not have any hope of him responding to me. But when I asked him to hold my hand he did so strongly assuring me that everything was fine. His left hand and leg was paralyzed, and I feared the worst - brain damage. I asked him whether he could talk, but he lifted his right hand and gestured that he wanted to write, I searched for a pen and paper but did not believe that he could write so left the ICU. But on second thought I went back in again and asked the nurse to give a pen and paper. Even after such a mighty miracle I disbelieved His mighty hands: if He could bring him back to life is it difficult for the Lord to make him write?! I went back to him and asked him to write by holding the paper on his chest. To my surprise, he bent his right leg to keep the paper conveniently to write! I was dumb founded to see him scribbling and didn't have the patience to read it as tears welled in my eyes. I ran out of the ICU and showed the paper to Mathew, out colleague and said, "JMK can write, but I can't read it." Mathew grabbed the paper from me and read out loud, "Please bring me a cup of tea from the vendor near the lift lobby." It was amazing! Just His amazing power and grace! We all laughed with tears in our eyes. I said, "He is perfectly fine, our Lord has performed a miracle!. Each visit to the doctors was inspiring and encouraging. Dr. Sai and Dr. Gireesh the physiotherapist, together chalked out his exercise plan after consulting with Dr. Cibi, the cardiologist. The keen and sincere interest they took to bring him back to normal life is commendable. Today Johnson can do almost everything a normal person can except for the slight weakness in his left arm and his memory is intact. More than anything else he can rake his brain to solve the various issues that he has in his official status, even after undergoing two brain surgeries in the same spot in the span of 5 days! Dr. Sai and Dr Sibi, I believe were also passing through difficult times in their lives shile treating my husband. I realized the amount of pressure they took to save his life shen both of them confirmed that our prayers performed the miracle and they were just tools in the mighty hands of the Master Surgeon!