My B-I-L Dr Didar Singh Chaudhry

Dr Didar Chaudhry and Mohinder

A miracle happened this week.

My brother-in-law Dr Didar Singh Chaudhry who, in his mid sixties, is a healthy looking person who meticulously observes strict diet and takes regular long walks through out rain or shine. Whenever we push him for extra eating, he will simply smile and let go our requests.

Strictly at seven, he will get up and start his day. As he studied in Chail Military School, a residential School in Himachal Pradesh, his habits are developed on Army lines. He will dress up by 9.00 AM every day. After doing the house hold chores during the course of the day, he will only retire in the evening after a long walk in the streets of Defence Colony, New Delhi where he owns a nice newly built ground floor. He has strict eating hours.

He was posted as a Veterinary Doctor in a village Nurpur in the vicinity of Ludhiana. I went all the way from Delhi by the Roadways bus and reached Ludhiana and took my lunch at a local restaurant before leaving for the village where Dr Didar Chaudhry was posted. I had a good meeting with him when he gave me a tour of his small Vet Hospital. I instantly in my heart approved the match for my sister Mohinder(Bobi). Chaudhrys have since moved to Delhi after Dr Chaudhry took voluntary retirement from the Punjab Government job where he was a Cattle specialist.

Dr Chaudhry is a very decent, cool and ever smiling person. He always forces me to stay in his house on my annual trips to India. A couple of years back, all six of us, grand parents to grand kids stayed in their place and we had 12 Jumbo size suitcases in addition to 6 more heavy duty carryon. The international traveling is what it is. There was not an iota of complaint from him as we were, of course, unfair to overload their flat and pushed them out of their own house. Gagan was virtually pushed out of his room and had to take refuge in the queen size bed with his parents. But As per the Punjabi saying "there still is a room on top of the roof", the family took instead took the load on their shoulders. On the other side, we converted a neat and clean house into a fish market. But smile on his face never diminished. His signature answer was that we had not even stayed for a few days.

On the Morning of 8th May, as I checked my mail, I came to know that Dr Didar Singh Chaudhry had been admitted, in a critical condition, to Medcity Hospital in Gurgaon, as all his major heart arteries were nearly fully blocked. He had been complaining of burning in his chest for the last couple of days and was in touch with my nephew Dr Sandeep Singh Kapoor. He advised him some prescriptions for treating acidity and also advised him to keep 'Sorbitrate' ready for an emergency. As he had no relief from acidity medicines, and continued with burning sensation, he took the Sorbitrate 5 mg break under his tounge and surprisingly he got relief.

In mean time, Dr Sandeep Chawla, a senior cardiologist with AIIMS New Delhi and a cousin of Dr Sandeep Kapoor, was also consulted. Dr Chawla immediately grasped the situation and warned them that the BIL has to be moved to a Major Hospital as some thing serious could happen in the following day.

So BIL was moved to Medanta Medcity Hospital and the investigations were jump started with the help of contacts of Dr Sandeep Kapoor who had his class fellows Dr Rajnish Kapoor, Dr Rajnish Malhotra working for that hospital.

After the ECG was done, there came no signs of any problem. He had no angina, no breathlessness and moreover the ECG was showing normal conditions. It was emphasized to investigate deeper, when they finally found out that all his major arteries were almost fully blocked.

A triple bypass open heart surgery was immediately planned, decided and successfully done yesterday. He is off the ventilator and oxygen pipes and all the supports have been withdrawn today. Dr Didar Chaudhry is slowly recovering as per schedule. Dr Didar Chaudhry confronted this hurdle very boldly and was found at his best with his ever green smile even in this hour of utmost difficulty.

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I feel that a miracle has happened, as before a damage to any major organs could happen, a quick and befitting decisions by Dr Sandeep Kapoor and later with the expert opinion of Dr Sandeep Chawla made all the difference. A precious life in the family was saved with Almighty's blessings.

Co-incidentally, their only son Gagan Chaudhry happened to be with his parents as he is pursuing his internship of his MBA program at Symbiosis, Pune. He took over the command of the house like catching the bull from the horns and was very instrumental in setting up the logistics. His team of famous 'SIXTEEN BROTHERS' were up in tandem and were waiting to serve like John Milton on 'His Blindness', as there was pre-req for blood donation before the surgery. So, young, healthy and fresh blood was attainable. While my sister Mohinder Chaudhry was as usual calm and decisive and never lost her cool.

Seeing a bit disturbed and tense, Shiv encouraged me to write a note on Smiling Uncle. Believe me after this blog, I heaved a sigh of relief as my nephew Dr Sandeep Kapoor just tells me that how gracefully both my BIL and sister behaved in this hour of hardest test of their lives. It was commendable that young Gagan rose to higher heights to confront the hard times rather being mowed down by the pressure and tension. There was full support from other close members of the family including that of Bhagwant Bhenji who being stationed locally in Gurgaon also hosted the entire family in her house. We all pray for BIL quick recovery and back to his favorite walks in Defence Colony. I am told that even in the ICU, he is spreading smile all around. His smile is overwhelming than his distress like a true Sikh in Charhdi Kala(High Spirits).

P.S. May16, 2012

Gagan tells me that Dr Didar Singh Chaudhry has been discharged from the hospital and arrived home safely. He was able to walk on his own and retired in his bed room. He was earlier having difficulty in taking food because of heavy dose of medication but is fast  improving. Many friends and relatives have been enquiring about his health. I, on behalf of the family, appreciate their concern and convey our sincerest thanks for being with us at this hour of distress. The prayers of the well-wishers have been heard by the Almighty. Thank you all and thank you God.

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