" I am not sure whether we should be trying that" said Dr.Arul.
I looked at him, helpless, wanting him to accept my suggestion. We were discussing on Smita's medication and he was reluctant to try out the new drug that had come out recently and was in trial stage.
"But it could work and could possibly her body could not have issues with that. What is the harm in trying that?" I asked, my voice quivering in high pitch.
"It is still in a trial stage and we are not sure about it's delivery mechanism and post-delivery impact on minors. I am sorry but it's too much of a unrecorded risk that we can take in this case."
I sighed and decided that he was probably right. I gathered up the notes and the charts, got up and left his consulting room. I wasn't really angry at him. I was at the desperately trying to see if there was anything that I could possibly do for Smita.
After a half-eaten lunch in the hospital cafeteria, I walked into the ward. A fortnight had passed since I first met Smita and I wasnt sure if there had been any progress at all that any of us could visibly see or measure.
I walked past her room, almost decided in my mind that I shouldn't enter but then changed my mind and entered her room. She was alone.
"Hi Smita. How are you feeling today? The vomiting stopped?" I asked knowing the answer even before asking.
The vomiting had stopped post breakfast today, mainly running out of material. We had put her on a NLBM diet. No Liquid By Mouth. In other words we stopped food intake and put her on saline and glucose drips.
" I am better. Tired. No vomit since morning." she replied in a weak voice.
" That's good. I meant the vomit part. Dont worry, you will be back on solid foods in a day or two."
"Can you give me some water?" her question coming out of a parched mouth.
In NLBM, the patient isn't allowed to even drink water. I dipped a cotton ball in water and squeezed it in her mouth, wetting her dry lips and tongue. She lapped up the water desperately. She looked at me hungrily for more, and I repeated the process, knowing that too much water and she might throw up again.
She laid back on the bed after this, tired out by this small task. I looked at her frail form and vowed internally to do something for her.
"Where is my mom?"
I looked at her. I thought she was drifting away to sleep but she was still awake.
"Where is my mom? I didnt see her today" she repeated.
"I dont know. I will check around and see. She must have come in when you were asleep. I will ask the nurse. You want her to get something for you?" I enquired.
"No. Nothing. Where is my dad?" she continued.
"uhh.. I dont know, I will have to ask the duty nurse only." I replied.
"Ok.. Tell them to wake me up if I am sleeping when they come."
"Oh sure I will leave the message at the nurse station. But now you go sleep." I smiled at her and tucked her into the hospital bed-sheets.
"Good night Smita. Sleep well now"I said, switching off the lights.
She didnt reply. She had fallen asleep already.
Day 16
3 comments:
is it may imagination or something lacking in this post? it's little slow and sort of incomplete... you know the feeling, everyday when i read this story, i used to rush and read greedily and feel almost breathless, when I finish the post. Today, I breathed a lot :) don't know if it makes sense to you, but that's what i felt...
If i'm wrong tell me, where I went wrong... if you feel my criticism is right, then do something abt it in tomorrow's post :)
But I truly appreciate you not missing even a day... I envy, admire and love your style and delivery...God bless you dosth!
and the picture is it relevant for today's story? 6 more days to go :) KUDOS!
@viji I dont know what is missing...but i take your criticism well, maybe i shall improve tomorrow or deteriorate even more ...wait and watch
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