Best of luck for my surgery

One Monday morning, my colleague called in sick. He requested me to take care of all his surgeries on that day. One of these patients was 8-year-old Nivedita. I knew right away that she was special. There she was — barely 3-feet tall, sitting straight, with a wonderful high-pitched voice. She was not scared like the other children, but had already made friends with the nurses who were smiling behind their masks!

She happily skipped into the theater alongside the technician, and was most cooperative for surgery. Yes, she needed surgery. Born with a genetic defect, Nivedita had developmental cataracts in both eyes, which had decreased her vision greatly. She wanted me to perform the surgery quickly so that she could see well and rejoin school! She loved school, she said.

On the table, just before the anesthesia, she said loudly, "Doctor!" startling all of us! I replied with trepidation, "What is the matter?" "No…I just wanted to wish you best of luck for my surgery!" That started my friendship with little Nivedita. She came for several routine post-operative check-ups, always skipping into the room, and rattling out all her achievements since the last visit! She subsequently underwent surgery in the left eye. Now she sees well and is one of the top students in her class. Her only problem is when her friends tease her because she is the shortest in class. She wants to become tall like me, she says! She calls me for every festival, or to update me on her eyes, or sometimes just to wish me good night! Now she has coached her 4-year-old sister to talk to me on the phone!

Recently, when she was here for her check-up, she asked me " Doctor aunty, can you give me the certificate? You know, the one that says Handin-cap (handicap)? I would like to have it" "No, Nivedita”, I replied with pride, "your vision is excellent.” "Oh..." she said with disappointment. "If I was eligible, my father would get a discount on all my school fees, I would have liked that. Anyway, when I grow up I will earn a lot of money for him."

By Somasheila Murthy, Cornea Consultant.