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Taking time….How long?

 Even after 2 days in ICU, the doctor said that there was no bowel movement and he also said that, we can say that surgery worked out only if there was a bowel movement. We on the other side had been in a completely frightening state already from the surgery day onwards.

We went into the ICU at least 2 times a day and used to talk to him, my father who was lying on the bed was also worried about surgery as there was no progress. I would get even more worried after meeting him inside because of his feelings and suffering. None of us were in a peaceful mind to think and make a decision. The doctor would say ‘It’s taking time let’s monitor’ but finally after using TPN(Total parenteral nutrition) on the 5th day and because of god’s grace, the doctor said that ‘there was a slight bowel movement and will monitor one more day before shifting to the room’.

They finally shifted to the room on the 6th day of post-surgery but he was still suffering from the surgery pains and also left side abdomen pain. We spoke to the doctor regarding it, the doctor said ‘I already told you that there was a recurrence of cancerous cells. So, that pain will not reduce’. But, my father used to question us — What was the use of surgery, if this doesn’t reduce? Did the surgery fail? There was a lot of meaning to his question as a sufferer but all of us including the doctor stood silent because we didn’t want him to panic immediately after surgery without recovering.

It’s been almost 8 days since the surgery was done and already been in bed for 5 days before surgery. So, for the past 13 days, he hadn’t eaten any food or water, he was only on IV(intravenous fluids). The doctor advised us to slowly give him fluids orally but my father wasn’t comfortable and also afraid because he thought he would vomit again. My uncle and aunt slowly motivated and convinced him to have food orally.

One day, when we were in the room, my mama(my (aunt’s brother) had come to the hospital to see my father. my mama works abroad and came to India for some work and when he got to know about my father’s second surgery, he came to the hospital. I admire him for his simplicity and his down-to-earth nature. When he stepped into my father’s room, I saw tears pouring from my father’s eyes after the second surgery.

We went back to my uncle’s(father’s brother) home a couple of days later…………..didn’t expect it.

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