I was indeed fortunate to be born with six brothers and three sisters.Being the last sibling in this wagon load of children, I witnessed the death of not only my family members but also members of my extended family. Death did not stop it’s relationship with me . Subsequently I became a Doctor who is also programmed to be an innocent mute spectator to the death of many fellow human beings. On one occasion, I had a one to one interaction with Death . Death asked me “ Are you frightened of me ?”. I nodded my head with a sarcastic smile and replied” I am never frightened of you because it is certain that every mortal gets to encounter you one fine day and the event is certain. Besides you are a phenomenon that affects this outer cage called body and not the soul inside. But I am petrified about the “process of dying “ because that process is emotionally draining fraught with misery and agony. It is the uncertainty of death as to when it will occur which shocks me and pushes me into corridors of emotional suffering. As Doctors we put up a brave fight with you on the corridors of illness to rescue our fellow humans from your fatal clutches. Occasionally we do win the battle and give our patients a second lease of life . In such situations, all the sufferings of my fellow humans including me go down the drain . Unfortunately, we have to go through one or more agonising sufferings through the process of dying.” Death prostrated before me and confessed to me “ You have won the battle.” It’s statement never went into my head because I realised that I had won only a verbal battle
Dr S Ramakrishnan
wisdomramki.com
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