This is the story of me as a father and my son Adbhut.
In September 2007, I was going to USA. One day before the trip I visited the Lord Shiva Temple behind Kemp fort in Bangalore. When we were coming out of the temple, the caretaker there asked us to touch the holy pillar there and make wish. We did! Then I sent my wife Archana to Patna as she could not accompany me. While being in USA I came to know that she is expecting twin babies. Our wish was blessed by Lord Shiva. I was on the top of the world. I came back to Bangalore in November 2007. I let my wife continue to stay at her mother’s place in Patna considering that she will be taken well care of.
I was counting the days. Every now and then I used to strum by the feeling of being father. I used to have day dreams and dreams at night. I am still very childish and my friends used to tease me about my fatherhood. That continued till May 2nd 2008.
On May 2nd, 2008
11 p.m. - I byte my tongue accidently and had severe pain. After that I tried to sleep but could not.
12:30 a.m. (May 3rd) – I received a phone call from Archana. She was yelling of pain and crying. I tried to pacify her and persuaded her to stay calm and try to sleep and promised that I am coming ASAP. Then I called my younger brother Avinash. My family (father, brothers, sister-in-law and nephew) reside in Patna. I asked Avinash to coordinate with my in-laws to take Archana to doctor. Then I started browsing internet to check air tickets availability to Patna.
02:30 a.m. – Archna was driven to the Maternity clinic. She was having 30 weeks pre matured labor pain.
03:00 a.m. – I was on the Bangalore Airport. I got the tickets. I had to fly from Kolkata and then from Kolkata to Patna. Avinash was keeping me informed about the activities in Patna.
04:10 a.m. – I was father of a Baby boy Adbhut. I was overjoyed. It was May 3rd.
04:30 a.m. – I had lost my daughter Adwitiya.
I was in deep confusion. I was not able to decide whether to smile or to cry, to be elated for Adbhut or to mourn for Adwitiya. Tears started falling from my eyes, tears of joy and agony. The situation continued. I was receiving greetings from my friends and relatives for being father.
At 12 p.m. I reached the hospital and saw my son. He was so week. He was kept in NICU, fighting for survival. He has born as a 30 weeks preemie, weighing about 1.25 kg.
After that I started to fall in love with my son. But God has different plans.
My son short lived for 34 days. Read further to know how we failed.
1. Birth: 30 weaks Neonate born on May 3rd, 2008 at 4 a.m. in MGM Hospital, Patna, owned by renowned Dr. Manju Geeta Mishra.
2. Birth background: The mother started to have labor pain and fluid discharge around midnight. She was rushed to MGM. It was case of twin pregnancy. Mother was under consultation of Gynecologist Dr. D. Singh. She was visiting the doctor regularly and was following medications and precautions as specified. Ultrasound scan was done regularly. No complication occurred during all these time. Reason for pre-mature delivery was twin pregnancy and fluid discharge. As the discharge happened at midnight and baby was delivered at 4 a.m. there is possibility of Oxygen supply interruption.
3. First a baby boy (Adbhut) was delivered with loud cry and weighing 1.2 k.g approximately. Second was a baby girl who had demised. May God bless her soul. It was a normal delivery.
4. Adbhut was shifted to the in-house Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at MGM and placed in incubator. My experience says that the neonatologist Dr. P. P. Mishra is good but the nursing staffs there are unprofessional and lacks nursing skills.
5. Adbhut started having multiple problems. He had Hypospaesias in penis. He started to have occasional convulsions and twitches. Neonatologists reported that his reflexes are not normal. Though he was active and could extend/ retract/ cuddle/ fold legs and arms but with jerk. He inherited my blood group O+.
6. Adbhut developed Hyperbilirubinemia (Jaundice). The baby was given photo therapy treatment. This problem and treatment is pretty common in neonates.
7. Baby gets infected with bacteria. This caused stiffness in whole body and skin. The baby suspected of Sepsis. Antibiotics were given to counter.
8. The baby was on and off of Oxygen support. Baby had few attacks of Apnea.
9. On May 7th, test feed (mother milk) was started through pipe. Initially, 2 ml was given every 3 hours. As the baby could digest the feed, the quantity was gradually increased to 7 ml every three hours. On May 10th, baby could not digest the feed. Feed was stopped. Baby also had breathing problems and put on extra Oxygen. The weight of the baby was dropped to 1.095 k.g. Doctor anticipated that the baby may need a Ventilator.
10. As MGM was not equipped with Ventilator, on May 11th, the baby was shifted to Mahavir Vatsalya Aspatal (MVA). Mahavir Vatsalya Aspatal is an excellent hospital situated near LCT ghat in Patna. It is funded by Mahavir Mandir Trust, Patna. The hospital is equipped with world class latest equipments like Ventilatosr, Incubators etc. The hospital is headed by Director Dr. Uday Pathak. He was practicing in USA for decades and having specialization in Pediatrics from UK and USA boards. This son of Bihar retuned to home to serve his soil and people. The Neonatal and Pediatrics departments are good here. The team includes Dr. Rakesh, Dr. Vibha Dubey, Dr. Vikram, Dr. Amit and Dr. Kundan and nurses Sarojini, Monica, Sunita, Kazi and Jassi. They are doing a good job, the best in Patna. I express my gratitude to most of them especially Dr. Pathak, Dr. Rakesh and Sisters Sarojini and Monica.
11. At MVA the baby was put in incubator and given rigorous antibiotics like Meropenum, Viglob Ex, Voil Grafeed etc.). Baby was also given Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) and Blood. The antibiotics worked and the stiffness in the skin gradually faded away in couple of days.
12. On May 13th, in ultrasound scan and tests the baby was diagnosed with a Grade 4 IVH (Inter Ventricular Hemorrhage) and suspected of possible NEC (Necrotizing Enter Colitis) and Sepsis. Grade 4 IVH is a serious brain injury and it can physically and/or mentally handicaps the patient. Dr. Pathak briefed me the ill effects of Grade 4 IVH and said that the baby may need life time care and seek my consent for further treatment. As soon he told this I said “I will have my son in any state” and pleaded for best possibl treatment. I had faith, miracle do happen.
13. As side effect of Meropenum, the Blood count and Platelets count fall drastically so Meropenum replaced with less rigorous antibiotics. And baby coped well.
14. Feed (mother milk) was started through pipe. Initially, 2 ml was given every 3 hours. As the baby could digest the feed, the quantity was gradually increased to 10 ml every three hours. On May 19th, the baby gained the birth weight. Dr. Pathak came and shared the motivating news. On May 20th, baby could not digest the feed and had stomach distension and again infected. Feeding was stopped. The baby was kept on routine treatments (Oxygen, antibiotics, glucose etc.) and his life was in jeopardy. This continued for 3 or 4 days.
15. By the grace of Lord Shiva, the miraculous baby (Adbhut as I named him) fought. He started to express vital signs. He could open eyes, respond to noises, sucking tendency and occasionally move legs and arms. He was getting his vitals back.
16. Feed was not started as he was having continuous Stomach Distension. On May 26th, Haematology report showed that his WBC, CBC and other vital parametes were normal but the Platelet count had decreased to 31,000 lakhs/cumm. The baby was given Platelet.
17. On May 31st it was suspected that the cause of Stomach distension can be a blockage in intestine and the baby may need surgery. One point to be considered here is the baby could digest milk for considerable amount of time ( upto 10 ml) and can pass stool and urine. He passes urine 8 to 9 times in day and stool occasionally.
18. Brain scan on May 31st indicated improvement in brain injury.
19. On June 2nd night baby developed problem in breathing and his Oxygen saturation level dropped to a level as low as 35 %, couple of times. His blood sugar level had dropped drastically.
20. On June 3rd, Baby has completed 1 month of life. He is weak, slightly active, cries weakly, passes urine and stool can hear and see. He is still placed in incubator and on Oxygen support. Major problems are severe Stomach distension, Feed intolerance, Brain injury, possible Sepsis, NEC and Convulsions
21. On June 4th, Baby develops breathing problem. He was moved to Ventilator (Life support system).
22. On June 5th, the baby took his last breath. His 34 days life was full of misery. He was born to suffer. May his soul rest in peace.
The baby succumbed to severe feed intolerance and stomach distension. He could not take a feed because of prolonged severe stomach distension. The recurrent endoscopy, barium anima tests and X-rays did not reveal the cause of the problem. Probably putting TPN (Total Parental Nutrition) Policy could have saved him. But MVA unfortunately don’t have setup for TPN. I appreciate the efforts and initiatives of Dr. Pathak and Dr. Rakesh. They have best Neonatology and Pediatric facility in Patna. They are planning for a Mobile Neonatology and Pediatrics Setup so that they can serve in remote areas. Backup support of Power and Oxygen is also planned. For this lot of money is required. I request all of you to join hands and donate generously. The donations are entitled for Income tax rebate. This is an opportunity to serve to serve your own people. For details, Visit
www.mahavirvatsalyaaspatal.org
Finally I dedicate below poems to my son Adbhut.
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Son
I waited for long to kiss my son.
I kissed him when he was dead.
I could kiss him only when he was gone.
O my lord I deeply urge.
No body should get this curse.
What will I do with the comfort and luxury?
My son lived a short life full of misery.
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