The Patient

Different people have different thoughts about a struggle. Many see aspiring Bollywood actors as strugglers; some see a child who has failed thrice in exams as struggler. But that particular patient in Dr. Shyam’s hospital was struggling for life. He was battling a very advanced leukemia. His hairs were balding due to continuous influx of chemotherapeutic agents in his blood. His looks betrayed his age of thirteen years, and he looked thirty years older.
“Sir, help my son. I know that only you could help him!” the child’s mother cried in front of him. Shyam knew it was a hopeless case, but giving up hope is something which is not taught in medical colleges, and it was definitely not a part of India’s most successful oncologist’s thinking. Shyam decided to take the challenge. He asked the mother of the dying child to leave the child with him for some time, so that he could monitor him continuously. He assured her that he would try his very best and would ensure that the child is given the best facility. The mother fell at his feet. It was a sight Shyam encountered almost daily. But this was special, for he was going to fight the toughest battle of his life. The stage was set for the clash of titans- the worst killer squared off against the best healer.

The best medical books advocate that the first step to conquer a disease is in the patient’s mind. If he wants to be cured, it increases his chances of survival miraculously. Unfortunately for Shyam, he hit the roadblock in this very step, as his young patient, whose name was Nitin, was totally depressed and had lost all hope of living. Worse, he had lost the will to live, which was one of the pillars around which the best doctors built their treatment. Shyam tried all possible methods. He took him to amusement park, but he passed out after the first giant wheel. Negative points. He showed him the famous movie Anand, which was about a similar cancer patient who brings happiness in the lives of all around him, inspite of being in a terminal stage of cancer. The key thing was that he had the will to live. Shyam tried to explain it to Nitin, “There you go my friend. That’s the way to live inspite of facing such a deadly condition.” But the replied was less enthusiastic than expected, “What was the use of being so happy doctor uncle? In the end, he died a painful death. What is the use of being happy after all?” Nitin asked morosely. Shyam had no reply to this.



Nitin’s condition was getting worse daily. Lately, he had even begun to refuse to take the anticancer medications, saying it was of no use, as he had to die anyway. There was no way Shyam could instill faith in this ailing boy that he can live only if he wanted, and not by any anticancer drugs alone. Finally, Shyam found a way to alleviate the mood of his sad patient, “Hey, what is it you like doing the most, apart from sulking and self pitying?” Shyam asked jokingly.
“Well, I like watching TV. Especially cartoons. In fact, my last wish is that I die watching Tom and Jerry. I want to laugh and laugh till tears roll down my eyes, carrying with them my life. Yes, I want to die laughing.”
His replied moved Shyam. The next day, he bought all DVDs of Tom and Jerry that were available. Nitin was excited and happy. Shyam saw a smile on his face for the first time. It was almost like a solitary flower blooming amidst Sahara desert. And, it seemed that Shyam’s little trick was working. Nitin was responding to the medications better. But, the rosy days were temporary. A week after the ‘Tom and Jerry’ therapy, Shyam returned home with a dejected face. His household help was worried.
“What is it Shyam sir?” he asked.
“Well, Ramsingh, I fear the boy has developed metastasis in the brain. We won’t have him for much longer. I am very sad at this.”
As an oncologist, it wasn’t uncommon for Shyam to lose patients. But, Nitin was special. He didn’t have the heart and will to lose out on Nitin. Finally, he tried the last resort of most doctors, which should ideally be the first destination- God. Next day, he locked himself up in his private prayer room. The whole day long he prayed. He prayed to God to alleviate the boy’s suffering.

A week passed by. Nitin was showing dramatic improvement. Soon, he was almost cured. His was a case which is often referred to in medical textbooks as “miraculous” or “inexplicable”. No one knew why he suddenly showed so much improvement, that is, no one except Dr. Shyam.

A month passed by. Nitin’s mother received a letter from Dr. Shyam’s home. It was to inform of Dr. Shyam’s unfortunate demise due to a long standing lung cancer. The man always prayed for his patients, the last of whom was Nitin, said his manservant. Perhaps that’s why he was so keen on saving him. Perhaps he wanted to leave the earth with a clean record.