Saturday, May 24, 2014

Lessons from an ICU

Over the last few days, I have learnt a lot.

I have learnt that you develop a strange kinship with the others waiting outside the ICU to catch a glimpse of their loved ones. When you pray for your father, you also start praying for everyone else in the ward. You learn that when your brother comes home from his shift, you ask about your father, but you also ask about all the other critical patients with equal zeal.

You learn that the kindness of the doctors, nurses and other staff members matters as much as (if not more than) their professional competence.

You learn that prayer is a very powerful thing. That when you really need to call upon the highest power known to you to save someone you love, you never think of a human being. You fold your hands, kneel, and pray.

You learn that in an ICU, all life moves in slow motion, and you have a thousand gratitudes to send up. In an ICU, you realise more than anywhere else, how much is right with your life.

You learn that when you come in and tell your father that you raced straight to reach him by his lunch time, and does he have any idea how hot it is outside, the look on his face tells you that he would do anything to find out how hot it is outside. That what you are complaining about is the very thing that he craves the most.

Yes, you learn a lot in an ICU.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hugssss!

Praying for a hot summer day for all of you outside the ICU soonest!

Onkar said...

Brilliant post. we hardly realize what we have

How do we know said...

Hi Hitchie: Thanks ! :) Amen to that.

Onkar sir: Thank you.

Himanshu Tandon said...

In all what goes on, take care of yourself too. Eat, pray, love and spread the sunshine. Sending you a bucket full of wishes...

kj said...

This is so tender. I've been there too. It's another world perspective. I hope your father is okay. Nice always to hear from you. Hdwk

Love
kj

Kalpana said...

Hugs! Praying for your father to recover quickly. I've been there, with my father and others and the ICU experience does cause one to bond very closely.

How do we know said...

Hi HT: Thank you! I will. :)

Hi kj: I hope he is better soon too.. hugs.

Hi Kalpanaa ji: Thank you! yes, we do feel a kinship that's quite inexplicable..

GentleBreeze said...

hi HDWK

I can feel your thoughts..
Dad was in ICU in mid March.. for ten odd days

It was a difficult time... I lost Ma about 17 years ago in an accident..
when Dad got sick..it felt as if the shadow of comfort is getting lost.. Thank God that he is well..
and back home..
I can feel your concern for your Dad and pray for him..
Stay STRONG!

How do we know said...

Thank you GB! means much, that. My dad is out of the ICU now too... but there is no good age to lose a parent...