Rest in Peace: Shivam G.

Perhaps the best cure for the fear of death is to reflect that life has a beginning as well as an end. There was a time when you were not: that gives us no concern. Why then should it trouble us that a time will come when we shall cease to be? To die is only to be as we were before we were born. 

- William Hazlitt

 

Shivam Gangwal (Diagnosis: Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumour right Femur with lung, cranial, spinal and brain metastases), a 15 year old boy from Bareilly was admitted to our Day Care & Transition Home on 21 Sep 2012  screaming with excruciating pain (predominantly of the neuropathic type - the tumour was pressing on his right sciatic nerve). He was stabilized within an hour with Step III analgesics, much to the relief to the harried parents.

Shivam's condition steadily deteriorated due to the extensive spread of the disease. He started to develop a pressure sore. This was promptly managed successfully with the help of a ripple mattress and massage. His constipation since 15 days was also alleviated by the appropriate measures.

One day, due to spinal cord compression, he developed paresis (partial paralysis) of the right leg and urinary retention. An indwelling catheter was placed and prophylactic antibiotics commenced. High dose steroids were administered to manage the cord compression from causing further damage.

The compromised lungs due to the extensive metastases led to a cough and dyspnoea (breathlessness). This was controlled to a certain extent by nebulisation with steroids and bronchodilators.

By the 27th Shivam's intake had reduced and his kidneys started to fail - his urine output was negligible. He became delirious. By now the parents had realized that the Ayurvedic medicines that they were giving on the recommendation of their spiritual Guru was a futile exercise. They wanted him relieved of his misery as early as possible. Shivam was sedated with subcutaneous midazolam. His relatives back home wanted to see him before he breathed his last. We did not discourage the parents form taking him all the way back to Bareilly - if that was their wish.

Shivam was taken home from our Centre at about 0130 hrs on the 28th of Sep and he passed away in his mother's arms en route near the revered township called Garh Ganga. 

We all pray for his soul to attain moksha and condole his bereaved parents and family. 

Shivam was a precocious and brilliant child - a student of DPS Bareilly. He was instrumental in getting his father's little photocopying shop to expand and develop into a cyber cafe and desktop publishing business. He always was an inquisitive child - he wanted to be clear about every medicine he was being prescribed - right from the time of his chemotherapy till he started receiving Step III analgesics (morphine, gabapantin, amitriptyline).

Birthdays

Real birthdays are not annual affairs. 
Real birthdays are the days when we have a new birth.

- Ralph Parlette 

Rest in Peace: Sangram - Terror of Nasirpur

Rasmai Rascal

As a dog - scratching is an inborn trait

Licking chops in anticipation of a snack

Shameless

Ruminating about the next victim

Innocence perosonified

Food! My raison d'etre

Pesky Fly

See these fangs!

"Who? Me? Never!"

Siesta

Close up

Closer up

Any closer and, Hey Presto!Chomp

Dermatologist's point of view

रखवाला 

Ever vigilant

Harnessed and harassed

Studious

Gimme

Gimme Eat (One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest)

I eat food, think food, live for food

I sleep food

Gimme Food

It is ironical that on this page where I pay homage to children who suffer from cancer and some who succumb to the dreadful disease, I had to mention our adorable doggie who too had to die of cancer.

His atavistic tendencies of attacking any living thing brought him all sorts of injuries. He was essentially fool-hardy and non-selective in his victims - be they children, adults, dogs, cows, buffaloes, snakes, goats and his nemesis, monkeys. He terrorised the neighbourhood.

He was a ladies man; females of the human kind could take all sorts of liberties with him. But if the males of the family became too cuddly, an ominous growl was all it took to deter us.

He died a virgin; alas, ther will be no other like him. His weakness was food - food of any kind. He was especially fond of fruits. Mangoes, bananas, papaya were his favourites. Mulberrys plucked freshly were a special treat. He was a vegetarian by preference.

He lived to ripe old age of 13 years i.e., 91 human years. He brought us joy, affection, pain, sorrow and some litigation in his eventful life.

He abhorred travelling. But towards the end he was too weak to resist and was taken in a car for his final journey.

Romp and frolic in canine heaven, Sangram.

Thanks for the Correction

Honour restored of Indian Air Force

Mercifully the guardians of our skies are back to protecting our air space rather our polluted ari (sic):

http://divyaphoto.blogspot.in/2012/09/air-force.html 

Our Day Care & Transition Home in OUTLOOK Magazine

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?282265

Bharat Bandh: A Damp Squib

Blocking traffic at Pankha Road and Mayapuri Road Junction

The दंगा फसाद turned out to be more of a façade. What did these idiots gain by deflating the tyres of DTC buses?

Other loonies burning public property somewhere in Sagarpur

 - Photos courtesy of Girija Singh from Aditi Apartments, Janakpuri

Rest In Peace: Nitish

"I always yearned for a Barbie Doll"

Nitish with his gifts: A 'dholak', Hanuman Doll and Barbie Doll

In a reflective mood

A child with with a sunny disposition and indomitable spirit - Nitish from Jehanabad in Bihar endeared himself to all of us during his five week stay at our Centre. 

His favourite snacks were Maggi noodles and कुरकुरे के बड़े पैकट। He loved to dress up and get himself photographed. A very devout child - he ate only after a bath and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa.

He was in extreme pain when he came to us, he was bed-bound due to the large tumour on his right leg and was developing a bed sore. He could not lie down due to the spinal deformity and slept in a seated position. We managed all his problems and made him quite comfortable. We fulfilled most of his wishes; these included a red T shirt and sandals (ironical!) and various toys. He was most fascinated by the Barbie Doll, which he had seen being given to a girl in the ward. He did not want to play with it, but treated it more as a decorative item.

Towards the end he gradually stopped eating, his pain medications were soon stopped and he passed away very peacefully in his father's arms at 2:30 pm on 18 September 2012. The last thing that he saw was the photo of Hanuman on the Hanuman Chalisa placed by his pillow. He was finally released from the earthly misery his short life had to endure.

We all pray to God to grant Nitish's family the strength to bear the loss, although they were prepared for  the eventuality. 

I am sure Nitish is romping about in Heaven with his favourite God Hanuman Ji.

Barfi!

A lovely bitter-sweet movie. 

Pryiyanka's portrayal of an autistic girl is exquisite and sensitive. The depiction is genuine and sustained throughout the film - the make-up could have been better, e.g., her sparkling teeth would be more apt in a Pepsodent ad. The dental hygiene of such a handicapped person would not be so squeaky clean.

Ranbir has acting stamped into his genes, thanks to his Kapoor lineage, that started from the thespian Prithviraj. Raj Kapoor the Chaplinesque Joker, the wild Shammi, the joi de vivre of Randhir, the suave and lady-killer Shashi, irrepressible and cute Papa Rishi and Mom Neetu's buoyancy and vivacity are all amalgamated into a delightful package called Ranbir Kapoor. 

The plot is a wee bit convoluted, but the music and lyrics are just perfect and not intrusive. The introductory song is hilarious, Delhi cinema-goers should heed the words - think of your neighbours; keep the baby and mobile on silent.

 

Brain Tumour

This child has a type of brain tumour called an ependymoma

Bone Cancer

This child has a cancerous growth in his pelvic bone known as  Primitive Neuro-ectodermal Tumour

Ravaged by Cancer

Cachexia in Cancer

Typically found in cancer, AIDS and tuberculosis, cachexia is loss of weight, muscle wasting, fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite. Derived from the Greek κακός (bad) and ἕξις (condition).

Air Force

अरे यह Ari Force क्या है ? Air Force तो सुना था।

Who Says Cancer is Painful?

A child with Retinoblastoma (that has spread into his brain)

A dolled-up Ashma receiving guests from the West