Remember Hrishida's great Anand who inhales the very Joy and positivity even when he is facing the last stage of "lymphosarcoma of the intestines"? Very easy to watch onscreen! Well, not exactly! Remember the reticent Dr. Bhaskar? His eyes reveal the suffering induced by the fast and painful aggressive disease.
Once I got the opportunity to interview a top notch cancer specialist. Actually, they are a couple who further specialise in oncology, the systematic study of cancer. Both of them talked of the inevitable use of morphine when the dreaded disease enters its last stage. Apparently, the extremely acute pain in the late/in the fifth stage is so unbearable that the controlled use of morphine under medical supervision is the only answer. Hence, told me the doctor couple, the need for hospices.
They, of course, know the best. Even then I feel that the last few days of the patient should be spent on his/her own bed, at his/her own home. I feel that familiar feel makes the inevitable tolerable for the departing soul. May be, happy associations, loving/lovely memories make the suffering less bothersome, more enduring/endearing. That was why I got Aai home from the DM, despite the stiff opposition by her gerontological expert. Here, at home, I felt the well-known sights/sounds, the intimacy of her associations would make everything peaceful, I thought. The "My last stay in my own home" feel!
Pratima@in tribute to the grounded roots that nourish the wandering branches!
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