TEN YEARS AFTER

Ten years ago on this day, I underwent a delicate surgery. The next year, I recorded words of appreciation and gratitude for my dear doctor. I stumbled upon it while going through my files and thought I should put it on my blog. So here it is.

"We had come to visit our son in New York last year when in very early hours of 21 June 2012, I suddenly fainted and was taken to St. Luke’s Roosevelt (now Mt. Sinai) Hospital. It was diagnosed that I had suffered a ‘ruptured left MCA aneurysm’ and was immediately operated upon and admitted in the ICU ward. There I was put under the overall care of Dr. Rup Swarup.

Right from the start, Dr. Swarup took personal care to ensure my speedy recovery and left no stone unturned to make me comfortable and at home. He visited me a number of times every day to ensure my well-being. 

A few days later, it was discovered that I was suffering from Hydrocephalus. The neurosurgeon who had operated upon me felt that I should undergo a shunt implant. Dr. Swarup was of the view that we should wait and watch rather than hurry to put a foreign body in my brain. The neurosurgeon was insistent but Dr. Swarup took personal responsibility for my case and deferred the implant. Meanwhile, he referred me to another neurosurgeon, Dr. Phil Steig at Cornell Weiss, who agreed with Dr. Swarup and suggested to wait and watch. After a fortnight, it was found that the hydrocephalus had subsided and the shunt was not required. The post-operative angiogram revealed that a small residual remained for which Dr. Steig advised a review after six months. I was then allowed to return home to New Delhi.

One year has passed and I have recently had a follow-up examination which showed that I have made a fair recovery and the residual has not grown.

During this period, Dr. Swarup visited Delhi twice and found time to come and see me and inquire after my welfare. On my return to New York for the check-up, he has gone out of his way to organize the examinations and taken personal interest in the results. As regards the residual, Dr. Steig suggested another angiogram 2-3 years hence as he was doubtful that a non-invasive MRI would reveal the residual aneurysm. Dr. Swarup took the stand that if the MRI showed the residual, it could be watched with further MRIs thus avoiding the invasive and radioactive angiogram. Accordingly, an MRI was done which showed the residual thus proving Dr. Swarup right.

My experience with Dr. Swarup has been most satisfying. His advice and diagnosis have always been spot-on. When convinced of his position, he has not hesitated to assert himself by overruling his colleagues. He has prevented my undergoing a shunt implant which I know from some friends’ cases can turn out to be persistently troublesome.

Dr. Swarup’s care, personal involvement and follow-up have been exceptional and well beyond what could be expected from a busy doctor. 

I consider myself fortunate to have been his patient."

Subsequent MRIs have shown that the residual exists no longer.

Tailpiece: Someone told me, "You live in song." Yes, I happily do. And the day makes me recall the musical group 'Ten Years After' singing at Woodstock in 1969, "I'm Going Home."