(This post is being resent - certain edits were pointed out and are needed. My apologies for this. The previous version has been “unpublished”, though I don’t quite know what that means in Substack terms.)
No man is an island, wrote John Donne, an English poet and cleric in 1624.
I could not have gone through the past few months without the support and encouragement of so many people.
The staff of Cardiance Clinic, headed by Prof. Ahmed Khatab, who conducted all the tests before coming to a fact based conclusion about my condition.
Anand, who spent the day with me while tests were being conducted at Cardiance when Smita could not be there. Ayodhya, who generously shared his own experience with me, and helped prepare me for the road ahead—easing my fears about both the surgery and the recovery that would follow. Hitendu, who held our hands virtually as we navigated our way to the hospital.
The surgery team at Hirslanden Clinic, headed by Dr. Diana Reser (surgeon), Dr. Sabine Däbritz (assistant) and Dr. Nathalie Scharf (anesthesia). Tina in the ICU and all the other staff—from helping me first sit up after the surgery until I walked on my own to the car that brought me to the Rehab clinic seven days later. Vino, who drove us to Mammern and kept me entertained during the journey.
The entire team at Klinik Schloss Mammern - doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, catering staff and cleaners who ensured that I stayed on the straight and narrow path to recovery. The beautiful surroundings that could not be improved, and so I focused on improving myself.
Friends, friends, friends. From far and near. So many friends who called, texted and visited repeatedly to offer encouragement and company both in the hospital and the rehab center (to both me and Smita). I am afraid that I will miss someone, so will not list them all but you know who you are. Thank you.
Special mention to Sunder who flew from London to visit and Ahmed, who drove from Munich to Vienna via Mammern.
Family. Charu made a side trip from London in the week before the surgery. Avi braved his demons to fly from Singapore during the surgery week. Srishti left her family behind in Dublin for the same. Kiran battled Deutsche Bahn twice to visit from Munich. Thanks to your families for sparing you. Mummy called every day. Amitabh was regularly on the phone.
And Smita—where do I even begin? Juggling work, home, and taking care of me couldn’t have been easy, but you managed it all with your usual grace and unwavering poise. Not once did you let a ball drop. You had an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time, doing exactly what was needed—effortlessly, it seemed.
Home right around the time summer officially starts—a great feeling. As I mentioned in part 2, I’m looking forward to all the activities that I missed in the past few months, with a special mention to spending time with Mahi and Niya!
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Until next time. Look after yourself, and if you can, someone else too.