The most Difficult period in my life

In this post let me narrate how the advancement of medicine played a vital role in saving the life of my second son.
October 7,2008,I will never be able to forget the above date in my life. It was a public holiday due to 'Durgashtami' .My wife was carrying our second child in the 34th week of pregnancy. .She was doing well-except being tested for gestational sugar above 180, but under control with diet restrictions. Two days back also her BP and sugar were tested normal.
On that day, from the morning onwards she was complaining of minor pain in the abdomen. As it was not much, we have taken it lightly. In the evening -by about 7.00PM,suddenly she told me that she is bleeding. Even though the bleeding was not much I have immediately taken her to the Gynaecologist.Let me give a brief introduction of our family background to know the case better. I am a Keralite,employed as Divisional Engineer in Govt.Service at Vijayawada,AP.We are staying in the departmental Quarters about 18 Kms away from the city. My family consists of my wife and elder son of 11 year old, all other relatives are in Kerala.
The hospital at Vijayawada is about 20 minutes drive from our Quarters on normal days. But due to Durga Puja,Traffic diversion near Durga temple was expected. I was Driving the car and praying God for minimum traffic. Due to god's grace, there was no traffic diversion at that time. Even though there were heavy traffic, some how we reached the hospital.
After examination and ultra sound scanning the gynaecologist told me that it is a case of placenta per via and recommended. for emergency cesarean. By that time the bleeding also increased and there was no other option for me.Within 45 minutes the cesarean also completed and the nurse informed me that it is a male child and both mother and the child are doing well. I felt relaxed, but immediately the pediatrician called me and informed me that as there is difficulty for the child to breath normally and he has to be kept in incubator for few days. They have shifted the child to the children's hospital. I thought it is quite normal and remained with my wife in the other hospital. By that time my wife was shifted to the room and after leaving my elder son in a friend's house in Vijayawada I have stayed along with my wife in the room. It appears that everything is fine till the midnight. Suddenly by 1 PM in the night I received a call from the children's hospital for immediate attendance. Leaving my wife alone in the room, I went to the pediatrician's clinic. She told me that the child is not doing well ,as the oxygen saturation is less than 55%(normally it should be above 99) due to severe respiratory distress. I was confused to react, but immediately I remembered premature deliveries with lesser gestation periods. I asked her whether any other options are available to treat the child. She told me that the only option available is to get the support of ventilator-which is not available in that hospital. She further reminded me that it is a costly affair with less chances of survival and the child may develop other heart complications also. But I was very optimistic, I told her that we will do the maximum effort and the rest will be decided by the god.
Immediately an ambulance was called from a hospital with ventilator facility. In this connection ,I would like to render my whole hearted appreciation to the efforts put forth by Dr.Kishore ,who came in the right time with the Ambulance for saving the child. The child was shifted to ICU and put on ventilator. The whole night I was away from my wife and returned in the morning to her hospital which was 2 Km away from the child's hospital. I have informed the matter to all in Kerala and on the next day my mother in-law also reached. Then mother in-law has taken charge of my wife and I was spending whole time in the children's hospital. Even though the child was stable with ventilator, the doctor's were unable to reduce the oxygen pressure. After five days they have diagnosed it as pulmonary hyper tension.
As cited earlier, my parents are in Kerala. I have informed all details to them regularly. My father-even though crossed 92 at that time was doing well-except for prostate enlargement problem due to old age. He was a 'Guru' for "Vidyarambham"of children in our village. On the vijayadasami day-I.e on 09.10.08 I have talked to him for about three minutes. He assured me that nothing will happen to the child as he was born during dasara time.
On 13.10.2008 by 8.45 PM ,I have received a call from my brother in Kerala. He informed me with pain that My father EXPIRED due to heart attack.I was shocked and unable to decide.My wife is in one hospital and the child is in another hospital in ventilator.How can I go to Kerala for attending my father's funeral? My relatives in Kerala advised me to be with the child as it was my primary duty. With no other option I have also decided like that. However on the next day when I have contacted Kerala they told me that the funeral will be only on 16.10.08 as my sister has to come from USA..I have regained courage and discussed with my wife and my mother in law for best options.The gynecologist told me that she can be discharged on 14.10.08.Hence my wife, on discharge was taken to our Quarters.One of my friends advised me to attend the funeral on 16.10.08 and assured that he will take care of the child during my absence. The pediatrician also assured me that the child is stable and I can go for my father's funeral. Hence finally I could reach Kerala on 15.10.08 evening for paying my last respects to my father.I performed all duties as a son for his cremation and returned on 17th october.The child continue to be on ventilator for 14 days,then with C-pap for another few days and finally after 40days in the hospital he was discharged.Blood transfusion for about ten times were done during this period for the child. Let me express my sincere thanks to all who donated blood for my child and wife. I have realised that there is no difference between Kerala blood or Andhra Blood or Nair blood or Muslim blood-all are same.Let's realise the same and donate our blood wherever possible to save lives.
At the time of birth he was just 2Kgs and at the time of Discharge only 1.8Kgs.Now he is in the 19 th month and doing well, like any other child of that age.
We feel that my father has given his life to my boy.We named our child as' Abhiram'-for the kind remembrance of my father 'Raman Nair".With my experience ,my advise to the readers are:-
1)Don't give up at any stage in our life, fight till the last, in fact the Doctors are only for treating ,the fate will be decided by God.
2)For pregnant ladies ultra sound scanning in the last months of pregnancy and if required bed rest is to be taken to avoid placenta perviaAs my wife has not taken any bed rest we strongly feel that if she had taken bed rest ,the complications could have avoided.
3)Better to admit ladies for delivery in hospitals with pediatricians, otherwise you may have to take more strain like me.
4)Always seek second opinion for critical issues-after all doctors are also humans, who can commit mistakes, but we should try to reduce the errors.