The tale of the frontline workers: Doctors share incidents that they believe will remain with them throughout their lives

During such a time when the whole world is fighting a pandemic, it is frontline workers, especially, doctors who are trying to save as many lives as possible. Here's a small conversation with them where they shared their experiences.

As Coronavirus has worsened the lives of individuals, who can sit at the comfort of their homes, one can not even think of the physical and mental well being of frontline workers, who work for long hours at the hospitals. We talked to doctors from cities across the country and they narrated stories they can never forget in their lives.

When I saw a woman of my age suffering

"I am a cancer survivor. Soon after I recovered from it, Coronavirus spread its foot in the country. It was my duty, so, I never failed to stand on it. At that time, it was still manageable. However, the situation became worse with the second wave. I can never forget about a lady, a little older than me, who had come to the hospital in a very bad condition. I was horrified to see her reports. It was hard to see someone my age suffering like that. With due course of time, fortunately, she started recovering. We managed to get her out of the ventilator and shifted her from the ICU. I am much glad that it happened.

Even now, we have put a patient on ECMO (A device used as artificial lungs). I really hope he recovers soon. So, there are a lot of things that we go through but what keeps me going, even after not meeting my closed ones, is the fact that it's my work and I got to do it."
-Dr. Lakshmi Sukumar (35), MD, Consultant Cardiac Anesthesiologist,  Calicut, Kerala

That uncle who I saw like my grandfather

"There are a lot of patients that come and there is a different connection or story related with each of them. However, I can never forget the bond that I had developed with a patient who was my grandfather's age. When I first saw him, he was not doing very well but I knew that his condition would get better with time. I remember, I used to tell him, "Uncle, aap theek ho jaoge, chill Karo (Uncle, you'll be fine, don't worry)." Unfortunately, one day when I went there, I saw him on a ventilator. We tried very hard but could not save him. The fact that he had no one with him, not even an attendant as his family was abroad, made me extremely sad that day and even now.

So, there is just one thing I like to request to people that please stay home. We, doctors, do not have that option but you have that privilege."
-Dr. Aditi Mishra (27),  BDS COVID care, Medical observer in clinical support, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi

Breaking a sad news to the family is not easy

"I face the most difficult time not while treating the patients but when I need to tell an attendant that their patient could not be saved. I clearly remember how one couple had come to the hospital where the woman was comparatively in a better condition but her husband was not doing well. We had to shift the woman to another ICU so that we could treat her husband without making her scared. Ultimately, we could not save her husband but I could not give this news to that woman because she was under the treatment too. I kept saying that her husband was doing fine.

However, the day came when she was recovered and I had to break this news to her. I could not gather strength but somehow I told her. The way that woman broke down in front of me will always be unforgettable."
- Dr. Jagriti Varshney (27), pursuing MS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Motilal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad

Also Read: The tale of frontline workers: Dr. Yuvraj Jadeja describes how his first surgery on a COVID-19 positive pregnant woman is unforgettable

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