FROM THE CENTER OF CYCLONE THANE

FROM THE CENTER OF CYCLONE THANE

My wife and I returned after a train journey back to Chennai at 14 hours on 30 Jan 2011 from Trichy. True there was a cyclone warning on the telly- a huge cyclone was going to pass via Cuddalore and Pondicherry that night and travelers were advised by weather department to avoid coastal routes that day.Our earlier plan was to drive in 2 cars that afternoon to Chidambaram a small town near Cuddaore to leave my son Pravin with his wife and spend the new year weekend with them.After consulting some well meaning friends we decided to stick to the old plan, but shift to one vehicle for travel- namely the sturdy SUV Scorpio.

It was raining a bit when we started out at 1430 hours on 30 Jan, 2011. We took turns at the wheel , generally avoided Pondy and the coastal route and reached Chidambaram by 1730 hours. The sky was grey and cloudy and it rained a bit in patches on the way.

When we put on the news on TV that night the weather forecast was scary with the police evacuating all the coastal folks with the advice to the rest of us to stay indoors. It was also strange that there were no birds around; the animals - the stray dogs, cows et al which we see by the roadside were conspicuous by their absence. Another strange thing was that electricity kept going off after 9 pm.I know it as I was trying to read 'Timeline 'by Michael Crichton... in small print!. Finally all the electrical power went off and I had to only rely on a candle to read my book. The rain had picked up pace and there was a fair amount of wind.

At 4 am on 31 Dec - saturday, I woke up with the windows banging , doors slamming. There was a constant howl and it was of course dark when I looked out of the window.The cyclone was in full swing. This was my first time in a cyclone. The power was out and no TV; electrical charge on the computer was out and no internet too.It was too early to ring up friends to find out what was really happening in Chidambaram.

Over the next 3 hours, we saw nature in all her fury. There was no sun rise that day, the day just go lighter and finally we could see what was happening around. Though I tried to get some videos of the early 4 or 5 am views of the scenery, it was too dark. There were so many bizarre events.Though it was constantly drizzling, the downpour was horizontal due to the heavy winds. There was a deafening noise all around as though we were inside a cement mixer. Every tree in sight plant, shrub or grass was wavering with the wind. The furious cyclone broke branches, uprooted large and very large trees, tore down the power supply by sheer uprooting of the electrical poles; there were flying missiles in the form of stones, objects around at terrific speed.No animals were about.

The clouds were rushing in the sky at a terrific pace I had never seen before.... like some of dream scenes one sees in movies when the hero remembers his past in a flash!My son who tried to go to his hospital for work at 8 am had to return as his scorpio was being tossed about in the wind like a tincan and there were too many fallen trees blocking all the exits in the street. After 0930 am , the wind velocity dropped a bit and the rain took over. Still the winds continued till 1 pm or but more tolerable.

The devastation had to be seen to be believed. First and the most prominent change was - no electrical power. So no TV, and the cell phones needed charging . Water was running short everywhere as we needed power to pump up the water. Food was in short supply in shops which had uniformly closed everywhere. No milk, petrol had to be pumped with generators.

My wife and I took the journey back on 31 Jan cutting short the vacation. We started out by a different long about route to Chennai as the travelers on the way told us to avoid Pondy which had suffered severely. 3 large multi axial vehicles which lugged giant wings of solar power generators had been overturned by the wind. Large containers with heavy metallic cabinets had been rolled aside by the gusty Thane. Telephone polls, electrical poles, trees, house tops had been totally displaced.

But there was plenty of human spirit around. People were helpful, the few cars on the road were very considerate to the people in the middle on the road. There was no honking by the motorists. The number of hotels which were open was limited. Less traffic, less people on the road, less animals on the road today similar to some 3 or 4 decades ago. But there was some sunshine about at least in the morning. We reached Chennai by a circuitous route after 5 and half hours. Even as I write, in Chennai , it is drizzling.

Very severe cyclone Thane was the strongest tropical cyclone in 2011.It left at least 33 dead in Tamil nadu and Pondy. Fishing industry was affected a great deal along with the agriculture due to gross destruction of the crops.Government of Tamil Nadu had warned people well before and and had ensured that most of the electrical power had returned within 36 hours which must have been an enormous task by itself. Naturally it would take much longer to rehabilitate the state considering 700 fisher men who had been stranded and the money needed was to the tune of 150 crores of rupees.

I was indeed much relieved to be back in Chennai during the aftermath of the heavies cyclone having travelled into it and back. I do hope that I would appreciate life much more after this episode of adventurous holiday. Happy New and Blessed year in 2012 to each and everyone of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdDTLXftvno&list=UU8KZuXlWWO3QzoR3u0edsGQ&index=1&feature=plcp

Dogs and Sickness

Dogs and Sickness

Dogs make great pets. Folks have pets for various reasons – companionship, security,children like them and to be part of family. Dogs make people happy. It is always refreshing to come home after a tough day at work s, stressed and anxious, to be loved by a welcoming dog at home. For the dog, you are everything and she totally trusts you with all her loyalty.

"The greater love is a mother's; then comes a dog's; then a sweetheart's”-Portugese saying.

As far as I can remember we always had dogs at home. We had a Pomeranian dog Caesar since 1997 for the past 14 years. He grew up along with my kids as part of the family. Among the two larger females, a German Shepherd Dog (GSD)and a Great Dane who towered well over him in size, he still ruled the roost. He recently was acting his age. He was moaning a lot and was slow to move around. He stopped barking and kept coming into the kitchen all the time to lie down at the feet of my wife. The vet said he was just old and he passed away 2 weeks ago.

We decided to have another male dog in the house and opted from a breeder for a 42day old pup- a GSD. 3 days later, Dino became very sick with parvo virus with marked vomiting, bloody stools, fever and dehydration. Vet gave him 5-10% chance of living.

So at home we rolled up sleeves and decided to make him better. My son with his wife (surgical trainee and physician respectively), my wife a pediatrician dripped him with IV fluids and hemacoel, antibiotics for secondary infection and other drugs like for children.

He looked so sick like a ragged doll. He yelped in rhythmic fashion denoting abdominal spasms. We were helpless except to support him with correction of dehydration and hoping he would get better. And that he did thanks to support from friends and help from above.

As a Gastrointestinal surgeon, I am concerned about the spread of diseases from dogs to humans. In most countries, dogs form popular pets. It is reassuring to know that some diseases such as common cold, canine parvovirus, canine bordatellosis, heartworms do not spread to the humans. Though these can be severe and sometimes fatal in dogs, they do not affect humans.

Infections which spread to humans from dogs include rabies, tick borne diseases, lice, scabies, hydatid disease (dog tape worm), toxoplasmosis(parasite), salmonella (typhoid),etc. Generally small infections do not spread from the dogs to human. It is important to keep the dogs vaccinated and healthy. When concerned about spread of disease from dogs to humans, please contact your vet or your doctor.

Vacation cum Conference

Two days for a surgical conference in Mahabalipuram. The idea was attractive for many reasons- technique is relatively new and we did have a fair amount of experience with it, the town was a historical one and I did not have to travel far- only about 35 km from where I live in Chennai.

The accommodation was large and spacious. The verandah faced the beach and had wonderful rocking chairs. Such a welcome change from the routine grind with traffic jams in Chennai. So many trees and so much of greenery on the way to the sands. … Birds chirping in the morning awakening you reminded me of how much we miss out on nature in cities. Beach was without a single human being before sunrise. It was great to run on the beach at sunset for a long distance with not a single soul in sight, just the crabs for company! The sound of waves, the vastness of the ocean, the ceaseless activity of the water remind you constantly of the beauty and the strength of nature. Small fishing boats returning at dawn, made a pretty sight as they neared the shore. Weather was cloudy with intermittent showers. Gym was a good one.

Radisson Resort Temple Bay, Mahabalipuram deserves its reputation because of the high standard of food and service. The band at the dinner was great ; unlike most bands, they had a violin too and did some Latin numbers till the rain played spoilsport.

Surgical part was good too and the holiday was very refreshing. It was a time to catch up with old friends and make a few. On the whole, a well deserved break.

HELPING THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see”- Mark Twain.

I was leaving to do a clinic this weekend at my hometown and booked my travel by train. It was an obscure ’special’ Mangalore Express and its announcement was not even on the billboard at the railway station. It even arrived at an obscure platform 2A in Chennai!

The train arrived in Coimbatore at dawn- 6am. As I walked towards the exit , I saw a couple- a blind couple with the man holding a white tell tale stick. I slowed down when the man and woman were about 10 feet away; people walked around them clearing the space for them. The couple clearly did not know which way to go. The noisy platform did not help them either. The man rotated around himself as if to assess which way to go. The wife just held his hand and circled along with him.

I politely walked past but then out of curiosity turned around to look; no one wanted to help. My pick up was waiting and I wanted to go away; but was interested enough to see if anyone would help. Well, no one did. So I stopped and walked back to the man and asked if he wanted to go out of the station.

He said he wanted to go to the bus stand. Coimbatore station has 2 long flights of stairs and I walked holding up his hand, warning him of the steps and the pillars around. He was a bit slow at first and then picked up momentum, gathering enough confidence in me not to use his stick for tapping. I walked him and his wife to the bus stand and then rang up for my car pickup.Ten minutes of my time probably save one hour of his.

I suppose most people would be like me – knowing when some one needs help, and hoping that someone else would help them. I guess that is human enough. But then, when help is not coming , we should step up. A little bit of kindness in spirit and action goes a long way to help the physically challenged and the weak.

Mark Twain was not wrong.

A Visit to ALMA MATER

On Visiting the Alma Mater

Prof Inian had told me I must attend a farewell few months ago and followed up with a few polite emails. So, just for a day, I visited my alma mater- Christian medical college hospital, Vellore on 10.9.11. The occasion was to attend the felicitations to my friend since 1970- a famous Professor of Surgery who later on became Principal of the college. Department of surgery held a series of lectures from 8 am to 5 pm for surgeons from all over in honor of the retiring surgeon , Prof George Mathew.

The hospital campus had changed over the decades. Concrete buildings had replaced the green gardens. So many tall new buildings! Ocean of people and numerous pedestrian paths had replaced the wide roads of the past. Large posters of the farewell festivities were everywhere. The buildings bore little resemblance to the institution I trained in.

In contrast, when I walked into the auditorium, I was taken back in time to the 70s. Many of my former professors and teachers were there. Some who trained with me are now professors and surgical unit chiefs there.

To my surprise, the program read that I was to chair the second session in the morning. When you are back with your teachers who have taught you how to hold the scalpel and how to take your first stich, after a lapse of so many years , one feels tongue tied and very self conscious .But it got easier after the session started and my two presentations on thoracoscopic(keyhole surgery of) esophageal cancer and laparoscopic achalasia( cardio spasm) went down well.

I met many of the surgical trainees. There was definitely something similar about all these guys, which has not changed over time. Apart everyone wearing half sleeved white or light blue shirts with no coats, there was also the polite demeanor, which surrounded them. Not once did I hear a cell phone ring; nor did anyone walk out after a lecture began. No loud conversation or backslapping! Polite applause after every lecture as it always was and will be! The new things were of course a lady surgeon who was the master of ceremonies and the gifts for the speakers. So after all, the changes had been only exterior and much of the traditional spirit was the same.

At five thirty pm sharp, the director of the medical college and hospital (my room mate from first year of medical school) and the medial superintendent walked in. Over the decades, punctuality and simplicity of the speeches were maintained. All the former professors were also on stage and they had some anecdotes of note to share about the retiring George. The George I knew in medical school was a quiet, simple guy with no airs, who went about his work with no nonsense. From the remarks of everyone, that is the way he had remained over the years. After taking over the post of principal of the medical school, he made his highest contribution by getting the medical council of India to make way for more medical graduates, post graduate programs in the most ethical way.

Sitaram Chief of liver surgery who had been close professionally and personally to George spoke of his contribution in surgery and research. George in his own way responded by attributing all his achievements to the co-operation of everyone. Over the years he had been to many of my conferences. His tone and content of the talk of naturally with his fully grey hair was professorial and he remained quiet even on his last day after 42 years of service.

At night, we the shifted out to another part of town to a poolside dinner. Much of the evening was spent in anecdotes by other departmental chiefs, songs from other surgeons and a slide presentation of George.

Speeches from the heart full of dedication to the profession and God, with no flashy superlative statements. That left me to wonder if I had missed out by not getting back to my alma mater. Had I missed all this out by not working in this ivory tower?

Then I mused of all my non CMC colleagues and junior doctors I had worked with in the mission and corporate hospitals. The experience of being with surgeons of various medical colleges had made me broadminded and I had friends all over India. And I have met some terrific, brilliant, dedicated doctors from all over the country and abroad during the course of my life. And in our own way, we had kept the CMC flag flying high. So working out of the ivory tower was not a bad move after all.

I had wanted to leave back by road by 6pm, but managed to quit only by 11 pm to reach Chennai by 1am. I had only a three hour gap to catch a flight by four am to Madurai for another surgical meet. But what does a little loss of sleep matter when you have just managed to meet so many of your friends who have laid a foundation in your life? This was yet another moment in time when I met so many, who had taught me so much, so many years ago!