A Week That Changed Everything

March 26 - April 1, 2024

Draft

Sometimes, life just stops. It throws something at you so sudden that you don't even get the time to process it. This past week was exactly that for me—unexpected, challenging, emotional, and full of realizations that changed my perspective on everything.

The Day It All Changed

On March 26, I was working remotely, and in the afternoon, I officially signed my offer letter, making my role in the company permanent. It was supposed to be a big moment for me. At the same time, I was chatting with my close friend L about my full-time role,her future role & opporunity,plans and future strategies in this company.

Just as we were discussing all this, my aunt called me outside. She told me that my father had collapsed outside the house earlier that morning, and he was now in the hospital. At first, I thought it was just a minor incident, but then they told me he was in a condition of paralysis.

I didn’t know how to react. I pretended to be strong in front of everyone, but when I went back to my room, I broke down. My friend was still messaging me something important, but I couldn’t even read properly. I shut down my computer and silently cried.

The Hospital & My Breakdown

A few minutes later, I left for the hospital with my aunt. As soon as I stepped inside, my mind went blank. Seeing my father in that condition was something I wasn't prepared for. Suddenly, I started feeling dizzy, my breathing became uneven, and I lost control over my body. The emergency staff had to check my BP and stabilize me before I could even talk to the doctors.

My father was shifted to a deluxe room for further treatment. The most painful part? My family had known about this since the morning, but they didn't tell me because they thought I’d worry too much. They hadn’t even eaten anything the entire afternoon. Even then, they made sure I had my lunch first.

Understanding His Condition

Once I could think clearly, I started reading the medical reports and found out that:

• There was a 40% narrowing in the right Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA), which was causing blood & oxygen problems in the brain.
• This led to weakness, difficulty in movement, and balance issues, especially affecting the left side of his body.
• He also had loss of cervical lordosis around the neck.

I immediately told them to begin the treatment and started looking for a neurologist.

Desperate for Answers

That night, I couldn’t sleep. Me & Sis kept reaching out to doctors and medical professionals, trying to understand everything. My close friend L suggested posting my queries on Reddit. I did, but all my posts were taken down due to policy violations.

Eventually, I turned to AI. I spent 5-6 hours on Grok AI (from X/Twitter), and to my surprise, it answered everything clearly. It helped me understand the condition, treatment, medicines, and even diet plans.

Another Medical Complication

The next morning, we found out that due to the strokes, my father had developed another serious issue: rectal prolapse. This was a neurological condition affecting bowel control. The doctors suggested immediate surgery.

I went for a second opinion. One surgeon helped us with a temporary solution at no cost—he manually pushed it back. However, he warned that surgery would be required in the future.

Watching Him Recover

By Day 3, he started improving. Physiotherapy sessions began, and we saw slight movements in his hand and legs. He still had weakness, but he was trying.

By Day 4-5, something incredible happened—he could walk on his own. I never expected such a fast recovery. Considering the severity of his condition and the delay in getting treatment, he could have had permanent paralysis. But here he was, fighting through it.

His Happiness & The Little Moments

Even during this tough time, he found ways to be happy. He asked me to bring him things, he wanted to watch YouTube, old movies, Ramayana, Mahabharat, CID, TMKOC, and travel vlogs. He kept asking me about different countries, places in the world, and was genuinely excited to see them.

This was the first time in 10-12 years that I spent so much time with him. And I think, in some way, he needed my presence just as much as I needed his.

What This Week Taught Me

This experience changed my perspective on so many things:

• The importance of family.
• Why having health & medical insurance is crucial.
• The value of true friends who stay with you through everything.
• How much people around me actually care.
• Familyto the family members without them nothing will be there

Gratitude & Thank You

Finally, I want to thank the people who stood by me:

• My sister Bhakti – for continuously monitoring everything.
• My close friend Likhitha – for checking in on my father's health & giving me so much positive support.
• My friend & resident doctor, Sloka – for guiding me through everything.
• My friends Tushal, Jainil & Ajay – for offering so much help & support.
• The hospital staff – for ensuring everything was clean & well-managed.

I don’t know what the future holds, but this past week will stay with me forever. It was a reminder of how fragile life is, how strong my father is, and how much love and support truly matter.

Thank you to everyone who was there for me. You have no idea how much it meant. ❤️

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