By Yatindra Bhatnagar

Before the doctor came to examine and talk to me about the  CT Scan recording (the CD he would have seen) and the further procedure, there was a drama that proved I had not panicked at all. Somehow I had the feeling - though not absolutely certain, but there it was - that nothing was wrong with me and if anything was there it would be taken care of without elaborate procedures. May be because I am an optimist and think only the positive.

However, at that stage there was nothing I could do except to accept whatever the doctor was doing and deciding.

The things I could do, and Seema was a good companion in that situation, I did, and enjoyed the show I put up.  

As we were filling up forms in the doc's office we got the room filled with laughter. Luckily there was only one other patient in the room, also filling the form. She saw and heard us laughing at almost every question/entry and our reply to it. Finally she could not restrain herself and asked if she also had the same (hilarious) form with her that was making us laugh constantly. 

Actually the forms were the same but our answers that Seema were writing were funny. Like ... are you allergic to anything? She wrote "doctors and hospitals." There were several light-hearted  answers we thoroughly enjoyed writing. Also, the forms were copied/stapled carelessly and we could not refrain from making hilarious comments. The other lady also enjoyed our remarks.

That had set our tone for subsequent session. And that showed.

After the preliminary exam the nurse left me topless for the doctor to examine me further. Waiting for him I started posing topless for pictures which Seema continued clicking all the while laughing hysterically. It was a room-with-a-view, overlooking the famous Rice University's track. It was a beautiful background for some hilarious photos. Both of us had immense fun. 

[Soon the photos were on the Internet for our other daughter Sujata in San Francisco Bay Area to see and comment. Sujata, her husband Mujtaba and their daughter Tamanna were also much concerned about me and were on the phone frequently. We are a close-knit caring family. Sujata researched and sent me detailed  information about the possible procedure, with extensive graphics and text. Both the sisters are thorough in collecting and passing on the required information, elaborately.]

When the doctor came we were in a good mood. Seema asked Dr. Raizner if he remembered her Papa at one of the parties The Sunejas frequently arrange at their beautiful home. As Dr. Raizner searched his memory I remarked light heartedly that at the parties I had my shirt on. The good doctor had a good smile.

That was the introduction and after that it was all serious talk about the procedure that the doctor wanted to do. He, like Randeep, did not want to leave anything to chance. He explained the procedure and set a date for it.

What followed three days later was the procedure called Cardiac Catheterization (Angiogram). The procedure that Dr. Raizner did  involves incision from the groin area and insertion of Iodine to look inside the arteries to exactly know if they are clogged. 

It was done at the big medical center - a mini city of big and expensive hospitals. Again Seema took me there as I was not allowed to drive back after the procedure and someone from the family had to be present to know what they found.
 
Dr. Raizner did the procedure at the big Methodist Hospital. I was kept for about 11 hours, including the time for recovery and rest. Before the procedure it was again poking here and poking there, poking everywhere. Though I got used to that poking I never liked it and would never want it. 

But here you are not the master of your destiny, some one else is. 

That some one else, in this case, was the caring Dr. Raizner who  after the procedure announced that everything was fine, there was just a minor blockage in one of the arteries and the medicines Dr Randeep Suneja had prescribed could take care of that, for now. 

I heaved a sigh of relief, so did Seema and soon Sadhana and the others in California, elsewhere in the US, New Delhi and everywhere in the wide world who came to know about it. I am lucky to have dear ones and well-wishers across the continents. 

After the doctor's verdict I asked him if I was fit for another 80 years. He smiled and said he could not say that but can guarantee another 10 years. There was no heart attack, a heart problem or anything serious with my heart. I was denied entry to the elite class that boasts of heart problems, open heart and by-pass surgery etc etc etc. I am fine where I am, without problems of the heart.

It was good enough for me to know that I still have a strong heart full of feelings and desires to keep active, loving, writing, reading, surfing the Net, thinking and trying to do something for others. It  was something great to know that I don't have a heart problem.

Yes, that is till I receive hefty bills from doctors, radiologists, and pathologists, and for hospital-stay, and a thousand other things. I am readying myself to face that serious situation, so God bless me!

[Concluded]