post accident

The hospital was in an old building and it was in the first floor. The ward boys came down and took me in the narrow and steep steps to the clinic. It was a Sunday and there was no doctor there. I was given a pain killer tablet to reduce the pain by the nurse, whereas I was asking for a pain killing injection. The nurse told me that she can’t give the injection, unless the doctor says so.
X-rays were taken. The boiler suit was cut and removed. My other belongings like my pen, watch and pocket diary were removed and kept elsewhere. The doctor had come by this time and I was injected some pain killer and sedative. The next day morning ,I was taken to the operation theatre. I didn’t know what happened after that.
When I woke up, I was in a room, covered by a blanket. I could sense that my right wrist was bandaged and my left shoulder was strapped. There were guys from the ship around me. I asked them not to inform my parents about the accident, but the office had already informed home.
Amma and Pasupathi(my brother-in-law) flew to Bombay that day evening. On seeing my condition, Amma started crying. Pasupathi went to the nearby shop and got me a t-shirt and pants, which I have with me till date.
According to the discharge summary, which that doctor gave, I had a fracture of the lower end radius (extra articular) with a fracture of the ulnar styloid on the right side and a fracture neck of humerus on the left. I was operated and a percutaneous ‘K’ wire fixation for the radius and a tension band wiring for the ulnar styloid was done. The left shoulder was strapped.
Next day morning, we went to the ship and collected my baggage and I bid adieu to my colleagues on board. When we were walking on the main deck, I showed Amma and Pasupathi, the cargo hold where I had fallen into. Pasupathi immediately broke into tears. I can still remember that, after all these years. I cleared the customs and came back to the hospital to keep the baggage. After that, we went to the office, to collect the balance of wages in the ship and to collect flight tickets to Madras. The Fleet Personnel Manager saw me and exclaimed that I was lucky to get through this serious accident with just a couple of fractures. I must thank God for saving my life. Back home, Appa was talking to Rangan Mama (ardent devotee of Satya Sai Baba and his close friend) and Rangan Mama was saying that Baba had helped me in getting away with this fractures. It could have cost my life or I may become incapacitated for the rest of my life.
We reached home after the flight and I was so happy to be back home to see Appa, Vidya and little Pavitra.
I went to Madras Office, got a letter from them and went to MIOT (which was there inside Vijaya Health Centre) and met Dr. Ramdass. He advised admission for further treatment. I refused and told him that, if needed, I shall come from home. He told me to come every day for physiotherapy.
I started going to the hospital for physiotherapy for my left shoulder. After 6 weeks, the POP in my right wrist was removed and I started doing physiotherapy for the right wrist also. But, I could not turn my wrist fully and had pain while doing so. I told the doctors regarding this and they advised me to get admitted for investigation. I got myself admitted and they performed surgery again on my right wrist, removing the ‘K’ wire and the tension band wiring. Again, I had my right wrist under POP. After 4 weeks or so, the POP was removed and I started doing physiotherapy. The wrist had healed well this time and I could use my right hand as before. The left shoulder was still having the residual stiffness. This stiffness would reduce with time is what they had told. But they had also told me that it will not be 100% back to normalcy.
It was almost 6 months before the doctors declared me fit to join ship.
Its more than 15 years, since that accident now. I am still working in ships, even after that major accident. I cannot lift my left hand to the fullest extent, but do manage to do all my works on board.
God favours the brave and with me it is perfectly correct.