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Since we’re nearing the “Grand Exit” from the hospital, I think it’s about time I write about some of the most invaluable parts of my hospital journey that I didn’t include in my previous logs, for they deserve a log of their own. I believe it would be right to begin with the most vital component that makes a hospital run. During my almost year-long hospital stay, I befriended a lot of other patients who knowingly (or unknowingly) became key players in my hospital innings. Therefore, this log is dedicated to all the patients in the hospital who had a game-changing impact on my race to the finish line.

I came in contact with a lot of fellow patients due to my visits to the thera-hall and scenic walks and wheelchair rides on my floor, not to mention my “roomies”, and made quite a few friends that sort of worked like the “befriend a fellow traveller” system for your hospital journey (so that you have someone to talk to… hospitals can be quite boring, you know). Some of my fellow travellers were not only good friends but also good teachers… in the sense that they each taught me small lessons of their own.

Since I was in the neuro ward, I met more neuro patients with different kinds of medical ailments and stories, who were each unique and interesting in their own way. I met all kinds of patients, from national hockey player to boys and girls my age, even senior citizens who were all fighting just as hard as I was to make a comeback to life. It would be too long for me to mention each one as much as I’d like to but at the same time unjust for me to not write about any so I thought I’d mention two who had quite a lasting impression on me.

There was one patient who was a supervisor in an oil rig in Saudi Arabia. He fell from 150 ft and hit his head and suffered from full body paralysis. Apart from the miraculous feat that he lived to tell the tale, what was commendable was his strength to fight the situation and the resilience shown by him and his “guardian relative”, his younger brother. When we met him, it was already 2 years post the numerous injuries that he had suffered, and numerous surgeries he had gone through. Despite all the difficulties, neither he nor his brother ever gave up or faltered in their efforts. His younger brother was constantly by his side pushing him on, finding new ways to help him out and recover, and constantly adding strength to his strength. Their ever-growing fire to recover was not only inspiring, but also empowering for everyone around them.

There was another pretty young patient who was an accident case. Due to her accident she suffered hypoxia and her brain was deprived of adequate oxygen for an entire 3 minutes due to which her entire body was paralyzed. Her mother was constantly by her side and supporting her all the while with a smile on her face. Her father, sister, brother and her husband visited her regularly and gave her all their support. And despite her inability to move any part of her body, she was constantly fighting the odds and you could see the fervour in her eyes to get better, no matter what.

There were many more patients who I shared my room with. We actually had fun together, we talked, laughed and even ate muffins together (as odd as it may seem in a hospital), and, of course, shared our difficulties and helped each other out in however way we could…be it small or big. There were those who prayed for me more than they did for their own and even those whom I listened to music with. And how can I forget to mention the occasional delusional ones who spoke hysterically in their sedated state, which we thought was troublesome at first, but we got so used to them that we even started to miss them when they left! We were all fellow travellers and provided strength to one another to get through those tough times. They taught me a lot that helped me in the hospital and is still helping me.

Hmmm… Let’s see, 1) They showed me that if they could fight their situations, which were far more serious than mine, then I have no right to falter even a wee bit in my efforts to come out of mine,  2) They showed me the real meaning of determination and courage, and humour, in the face of unsurmountable odds, and 3) They also reinstated my belief that family, and people, are one of the greatest source of strength in difficult times and with their support any difficulty can be overcome.

I guess 3 are enough for one log… can’t afford to make all you guys philosophers, now can I? Closure to the discharge log then, folks!! 🙂