I am going to share today an accident that changed our lives.
This incident has four parts- Ola Cabs, Kauvery Hospital, my family, and the …..
1. Let me start with Ola Cabs :
On 20th Dec 2021, while sipping our evening tea, we discussed our new year plans and travel. We received a message that our family friend for four decades passed away. Immediately my parents and I booked an Ola Cab and reached Manipal Hospital, Bangalore. Yes, we live in Electronic City, Bangalore. It was tough for us as my parents lost their dear friend Lt Cdr (retd) Sundaram. After comforting the bereaved family, by 11 pm, my parents and I boarded another Ola Cab to return home. I buckled up in the front seat, which my father usually occupies. I felt my parents would feel better if they could sit in the middle seat next to each other as they mourn their friends' passing. Just a minute before we reached home we met with an accident.
At about 11.43 pm, the driver hit the speed breaker on high speed and not able to manouver the cab, he smashed into the road divider. I woke up with a shock, saw lights and people around, dad bleeding profusely from his head and still. Mom asked for cotton, and I could see people staring and capturing videos.
I took charge. I shouted, please listen to me, get me some cotton; they said no cotton; I asked them to check their first aid kit. The cotton from there we placed on his forehead. Then I screamed for help to take my father to Kauvery Hospital. I was surprised to see my younger son there. He was out for dinner with his friends, and very mystically, he was in a cab just behind us and seeing me screaming for help on the road, he came to me. Hearing me speak in Malayalam, three young boys told me they could reach us to the hospital. I didn't know how to get my father out of the smashed cab. The boys reassured me to pull him out. I appreciate and thank their presence of mind. They told me not to give water to my father, take pictures of the driver (standing unhurt) and the cab, check if anything we left in the cab. Harris is the name of one of them. Sending them blessings as I don't know anything more about them. I called my elder son to come with our car, drop my younger son and mom home, and reach the hospital.
Today when I look back on that day, I feel so happy that when an accident took place, I could take charge and, without wasting precious time, reach the hospital within 5 mins.
2. The second part: Kauvery Hospital, Electronic City, Bangalore :
I saw MS Dhoni endorsing Kauvery Hospitals on a giant billboard and felt reassured about my Covid vaccination doses from this hospital.
I am not sure if MS Dhoni must have done enough research before endorsing this hospital. I remember meeting Dhoni at the Mumbai airport while collecting our luggage in late 2009 while they returned from a match in Sri Lanka along with Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan. My only picture with Dhoni, and I have adored his leadership style since that day.
At the emergency room (ER), my father refused to cooperate with the doctors because of shock, and it was one whole night of scans and tests. I ran around from the billing counter, Pharmacy, scans, and ER.
What is unforgettable is when my son and I held our hands and prayed in between all this. My brother and his wife were consistently on call from the US, and my friend checked frequently though in Kerala on that day.
Dr. Leona is a person with maximum composure, excellent presence of mind, leadership skills, and the best smile in the world apart from being the doctor who was the one attending my father. The way she guided the team who would throw challenges at her, was very impressive. As a mentor for so many leaders, I can say that Dr. Leona is highly competent enough to manage a hospital in the future.
Dr. Kishore went about supporting the whole process with frequent updates that were very reassuring while spending the entire night in the ER.
Dr. Abhishek went out of his way to comfort my mother with multiple cups of tea which she is so thankful for as she felt disoriented because of her severe leg injuries. (The next day)
The nurses are all so well-mannered and trained efficiently, not just technically but on how to support us emotionally.
3. The third part: Our family :
I have heard parents go through stress raising their children. But, this accident has bonded us like never before. I have got to experience the best feelings of raising my children. They hugged me like never before; they cried with me as I had never seen before; they encouraged me like I never knew before.
It is at such times that we get to experience how our children are responding and not reacting to the adverse challenges life throws at them.
I can say, I am proud of my boys. They are courageous and compassionate enough to be global citizens.
4. The fourth part: …
The Ola cab services didn't show any concern to all the stress, pain, turmoil my aged parents went through because of head injury or weeks of anguish, anxiety, and helplessness being bedridden. So I requested their call center executive to email me about the incident, and they haven't bothered till today.
As we close 2021, my heart mourns losing my very dear friends (Sanjeev and Kauvery) and step into welcoming 2022 with the charm n smile of their grandson Avir. Likewise, my parent's lost their friend Lt Cdr (retd) Sundaram.
Let us once again learn to celebrate being alive and fill our lives with gratitude for people like the team at Kauvery Hospital, Electronic City, Bengaluru.
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