CHELAKARA RAMAKRISHNAN VISWANATHAN (KASHI - EX KAMANI MUMBAI)
It was a Thursday evening, When we friends Ramanathan Gurunathar, Sabarish Kannamani and my family (Krishnan aka Chelakara Ramakrishnan) had been out on a weekend in Dubai on Thursday evening to Jumeirah stopping by at the famous IJAZA Cafe and grabbing a drink to drive near the beach area with the Kids playing and we adults chatting several things in life. I personally didnt know what was happenning as i was feeling very tired on that day and a sort of fully drained by. I somehow didn't want to disturb the outing (As it was after a long time (due to Covid) we had stepped out) and hence was carrying along with the friends and families who were all there. By around 11 pm, i had started getting down as we decided to wind up the day and left for our Home. The moment i reached home, i crashed in to bed on that day. Not sure whether i had put the phone on charge or had made it silent, but immediately crashed down to bed on that Day.
Never knew that that weekend of Thursday (those days in Dubai, Thursday was the last day of the week), 10th December 2020 would turn up to be a significant day in my life.
After about an hour of deep sleep, i was woken by my wife, Kavitha when the call from my Parents was received that late night informing that my Fathers health was done and he had slipped down and fell down after going to washroom at night around 1 30/2 00 am late night on that day. Fortunately Kavitha was awake and Kishore (My brother in law) also came running in when the call was received in the home landline as well, when they tried to reach us in different numbers.
I somehow managed to get up and in few minutes regained all strength from the very tiredness and sleep. That was the time of COVID with several travel restrictions. We understood that travelling to INDIA was not just like getting tickets and hopping on to a flight and you needed a COVID certificate which would be valid for 48 hours or so. We immediately called Harish my brother and understood the nearest 24X7, medical centre as one close in Healthcare city and rushed there late at night for the COVID test for myself, Kavitha and Naveneeth. That was the second time that i was taking the test and propably the first time Kavitha and Nanu taking the test. We took the test and spoke to my cousin Prasad in Vileparle and was talking about the future course of action. I was also in touch with Petchimuthu, who immediately rushed home along with Mahesh early in the morning.
Appa was smart enough and called the ambulance and the Ambulance team had arrived immediately at home to take the father. He was immediately taken to Fortis Hospital in vashi, where there were no beds available and the only bed available was in the covid ward, where they were and we were not recommending the same as we all felt that it was some sort of other disease. His oxygen level was down and when he was at normal, He was then rushed to the DY Patil Hospital in Nerul late at night to early in morning. Once in the hospital, a Covid test was taken and he was positive and immediately Amma had also undergone the Covid test to note that she was also positive.
My sister Chitra immediately managed to reach Mumbai from banglore. My results had come by next day Afternoon around 1 pm to 3 pm for all 3 of us at various times for covid negative and we immediately booked for our tickets for the night flight to Mumbai from Sharjah. HArish had dropped us in the airport and we reached early morning on that day. Appa COVID results came later in the day and then Amma had undergone the COVID tests to have the results as positive only on next day, the day we reached Mumbai and reached home.
Appa was admitted to DY Patil and I took Amma and admitted here in the quarantine centre in the EXPO centre near to VAshi railway station. There were works going on at our Vashi house and the house was full of dust and looked like a construction site. We had a tough time cleaning the house and somehow managed to clean the same quickly upon reaching home. The cleaning looked like a nightmare with all debris, paint box and several other things scatterred around the house.
I was taking the food to the Hospital and due to covid restrictions, we could just deposit the food at the Security gate in the hospital and were not allowed inside the hospital. Everyday i would go 3 times to the hospital taking the food for Appa. Appa wanted simple food like Idli Dosa and then some fruits. He wanted hot coffee and i would take the same in some sort of box which would not be that boiling hot while reaching the hospital. The hospital was like 30 minutes drive in Auto and the weather was very cold in December in those days. Appa would ask to bring some Hot coffee and i had ordered disposable Flasks from a vendor in Gujarat which would help taking the coffee/tea hot to Appa. Appa would come and talk to us on all days in Video Call or in Phone call and we would talk about everything.
After reaching in Mumbai, Since it was the first day of Amma Covid Positive results, i had dropped her in the Quarantine centre. The centre was well established and i ahd taken her with some clothes and basic things like bucket and Mug etc and dropped her in an Auto.
Everyday we would order food from Hotel or would get something to eat from Petchimuthu Mama house. I do not recollect whether we started cooking there or were having continiously from outside. To my best of knowledge, i belive it was all from outside. Everyday we would order and myself and Kavitha and Chitra anmd Raghu along with Nanu would have the breakfast, lunch and dinner together.
Everyday we use to get lot of calls from all well wishers and we were spedning days like normal. Once in a day, a call from the Hospital would come giving the progress on Appa Health. He was not getting an improvement on his Oxygen levels, I had received calls from DART Raman from Dubai, who connected me with some senior people who were well connected in the Hospital and they said that the hospital staffs are taking good care off. There were also many calls from relatives who would question on the treatment and the progress and whether the same is going in thr right direction. I had many times questioned myself on whether i was doing the right thing and taking the right direction, however never got a conclusive answer for the same. Everyday Appa would talk over Phone or Video Call and we were spending days with a hope that all would be fine.
After 4 or 5 days, i got the news of the demise of the Vadhyar Lakshmanan in Andheri who was the son of Mani Vadhyar. Sriram Nagar. I understood that he was at his peak fo COVID and had collapsed when he reached Hospital. We could then connect that Appa was in touch with him in Vileparle when he went to Mani Periappa Shraddham and he was closely seated with Lakshman Vadhyar and we could trace the source of him getting COVID positive. Subsequently Prasad Anna, Sudha Manni, Leela Periammai and Soorya all took Covid test and i believe Prasad Anna and Sudha Manni was tested positive for COVID.
Appa had also been to Dorai Periappa death 10th day and 13th day which came just couple of days after Mani Periappa Shraddham and he had travelled in an Auto early in the morning from Vashi to Virar along with Petchimuthu. I believe the Cold weather of that with his travel in early morning in Auto along with the works that has been going around at home where it was a very dusty environment had taken his illness to its very peak. He had even consulted Dr. Kusum Shenoy when he fainted late at night just couple of days back on 8th December 2020. He even asked the Dr, whether he could have got Covid and whether he should test COVID, for which the Dr said that since there was no symptons, no need to do the COVID test.
I could talk to father on one of the 6th to 8th day informing him from where he got the covid (through Lakshmana Vadhyar) and was talking to him. during the 8th - 9th day or so, the Dr had informed that his oxygen levels have not been improving and if this persists, they will have to give him some sort of a bigger Oxygen mask. They had even changed that and still he was not improving on his oxygen levels. The 10th day had come by which Amma was suppose to be discharged from the Quarantine centre and it was a festive mood at home, when i went and brought her back home on that morning. We were all very happy with Nanu Chitra and Kavitha in joy with Amma return. while there was joy and we had planned for a bigger celebrations when Appa comes back home. It was all shattered by a call from the Hospital at around 10 30 am, just few minutes after Amma reaching home that Appa oxygen levels are not improving and he needs to be moved to a Ventilator.
There was absolute silence at home as none of us were experienced to manage this and at the same time also helpless to do anything as transporting a patient while admitted with COVID was next to impossible at those times. Since he was admitted with being covid positive, he was moved in the same hospital under the government quota of treatment. Several times, i questioned to myself as if i was doing the right thing and should i move him to a private bed in the same hospital or other hospital. Again rushing back to all our connects and influential people, they informed that the treatment would not have any change, except from moving from Govt to Private in the same bed, the only benefit would be some sort of frequent updates on his health. Many suggested that we should not do anything at this point of time and should trust the government and the team of Doctors as they are trying their best to do for all without any differentiation.
Our family friend Suresh Panicker was also consulted to see whether we should take him to some other hospital and have a diferrent course of treatment, which we were told not to change at this time and let it continue as it is. The calls started to stop since his movement to ventilator and there was a sort of very tense environment at home with no happiness and no clue on whats next. It was like sitting in a War Zone and battlefield waiting for when the bomb will blast. The breakfast, lunch and dinner gathering was more of a ritual to have food to survive. What was once a celebrated and most wanted get together while eating, became a sort of silent ritual of having food. Quite often the ladies members in the family would ask to call and take updates from Drs and the hospital when sometimes, it has happened that some days went without no update. We would frantically call all the possible numbers available with us and would occasionally visit the Hospital to just be seated outside the Hospital. There was no use in visiting the Hospital for any updates as all things was under strict quarantine.
All Possible prayers were done at all places in Nelluvai, Tripankode, Chittilamcherry for speedy recovery of Appa Health. The days were too tough to pass by and every minute was like a hours being spent. We would just lie down at home with no one talking to each other. Everyone being helpless. For the first time, i realized in the most hard way that your influence, Money, Connections, Network and Networth are all Worthless. The first 10 days and the next 10 days had passed by with Drs calling us almost daily saying that he was not improving under ventilator. On one day, a Call from Suresh Panicker, he also told me to be stronger and be ready to face any tough situation that may come.
I had also taken the treatment summary from the Hospital to show this to my Dr friend in Dubai, Dr. Krish Sairam, who confirmed that they are giving the right treatment and it is very difficult to bring him back and lets pray God for his recovery.
We started writing Rama Nama for last 2 to 4 days in my office book. On the 21st Day, i,e. 31st December 2020, i got a call from the Hospital around 5 45 pm that he had a mild attack and they had managed to revive him. The environment was very tensed since then at home with all being very emotional. Night 10:42 pm, the call came from the Hospital where they mentioned that he had suffered another attack and they couldn't revive him.
THE SUN HAD SET AND THE BANYAN TREE HAD FALLEN DOWN ON 31 DEC 2020.
I could never forget this 21 Days of my life. The first 10 Days followed by the next 11 Days, which shattered the entire family. Its 4 Years and 4 months now and it still feels like this happened just last week.
- Authored by C V Ramakrishnan (Krishnan)
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