It was the 17th of March 2021 at 10:00 a.m. I got a telephonic call from my home informing me that my father fell unconscious on the road at 9: 30 a.m. while he was on a way to a private medical clinic for a regular medical check-up. In the first instance, I thought it may be due to low sugar level-hypoglycemia so I advised my younger brother who was accompanied by him to provide some sugary foodstuff to him so that he would recover from that odd situation. Acted upon the advice, he rushed to the nearby shop to get a pinch of sugar tried hard to put it into his mouth. When his body didn’t show any positive signs and his condition worsened more and more, he frequently contacted Dr. Irshad telephonically- one of his close friends, narrating the whole episode, updating him about the current symptoms- shivering, frothing from the mouth, vomiting and irrelevant talking. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he advised him to admit the patient (father) immediately to the nearby hospital. Without wasting any time, my brother along with his friend rushed to SKIMS- Soura. When that news reached me again through my son, I also approached the medical institute. As soon as I entered into emergency. As usual, the ward was packed with patients my eyes were looking for a glimpse of my father and finally I saw him lying on a stretcher in a semi-conscious state. The doctors, nurses on duty after doing the preliminary treatment and investigation declared that my father met with a massive heart attack. That news put me and my entire family into deep shock. After having the consultation with senior doctors regarding that particular case, it was decided that the patient (father) needs an immediate installation of a pacemaker within 24 hours.

Now, started the big trial. For doctors, it was a professional trial and for us, it was a do-or-die situation. Fortunately, the availability of a golden health card and the negative result of the COVID-19 test which in the light of the prevailing situation is a pre-requisite procedure for any surgery gave us a sigh of relief. It was an emotional scene when my father folded his hands while proceeding to the operation theater uttering these words “Latus, Gabis Dezia Mafi” forgive me if I did anything wrong big or small with you any time in my life. Operation theater door closed, all eyes were staring at the door to know the future course of action. In the meantime, one of the doctors came out from the theatre after a long break. He advised us to shift the patient to the indoor cardiac ward- emergency medicine for the further procedure (replacing the external heart survival kit with the permanent pacemaker). Puzzled, we moved the stretcher towards the ward that was pre-occupied on that date. We waited there for a while till one of the patients got the discharge certificate. We occupied bed no. 52.
That whole procedure extended up three days. That period gave me ample time to observe the professional capabilities of doctors, nurses, and other staffers who were on their routine duties there. I witnessed the doctors and nurses busy in treating and caring for each patient, monitoring their blood pressure and sugar level regularly, giving glucose drips to needed patients, obtaining blood samples for various tests, chefs serving meals to patients at the proper time, ward boys conducting regular cleanness drives to maintain the proper hygiene in the ward, security guards handling the regular rush of visitors. Besides this hectic routine work, I watched those staff men following proper SOPs and also giving due care to medical ethics while performing their duties round the clock. I saw a young doctor with an angelic smile on his face cheering, moving his stethoscope like a pendulum in front of four years old crying kid making her cheerful, diverting her attention, and preparing her for upcoming surgery.
The only thing that I found a bit awkward and inconvenient is the improper alignment of testing labs and their insufficient space. Whether it is X-ray or ECG labs or pacemaker analysis lab.
Anyway, it is not an easy task for any institution or organization to handle such a huge number of cases on daily basis and deal with each case systematically during these pandemic times. I realize that all the SKIMS- staff deserve due regard and respect for their excellent work culture. Lastly, I extend my sincere gratitude to all doctors and other medical staff associated with the Department of Cardiology for their worthy role especially to Dr.Aamir, Dr. Bashir, Dr. Hyder, Mr. Aziz, Mr. Adil (Technologist), and HOD Prof. H.A. Rather in conducting the hassle-free surgery of my father. Also my thanks to Dr. Irshad, Dr.Momin endocrinologist, sister Nighat Zahoor who has been rendering her duties as the Staff Nurse in the same Institute. All this was possible only when these medicos are under the guidance and supervision of Director SKIMS Dr AG Ahanger. Never forget their primary help which they all extended to me while admitting my ailing father in the Institution.
“Our medical fraternity is an asset to our society, give them due respect”

Email:---minamharoon123@gmail.com