Delhi summers and Radiation.

My daughters did a lot of running around in the hospital to fetch medications from pharmacy, send the drugs for mixing,pay the bills,ensure medications and feeds were administered timely and maintain the documentations.Nurses were good and came to assistance any minute you called for them but the attendants had to keep a track on all minute details and advocate strongly for their loved ones as it was a very busy ward and every patient was critical.

Mr. Nayyar had 28 days of radiation.He would wear a customized cast on his trunk to prevent unwanted areas getting exposed to the radiations.As radiation burns the tissue at microscopic level, it does come with some risks.My daughters would accompany Mr. Nayyar daily for radiation.They would  always carry a packaged juice bottle with them and give it to Mr. Nayyar to drink soon after the radiation session.As we were into summers, it helped him keep cool and stay hydrated.After about 15 session of radiation,Mr. Nayyar noticed loss of appetite, feeling of fullness in stomach and also started loosing weight.His cast fitted him very loosely now so much so that the doctors considered recasting him.Thankfully, Mr.Nayyar successfully completed chemo and radio though his weight now dropped to 70 from 77Kgs.

6 months was a long time to be away from our home.We craved for Dehradun's fresh mild air, open spaces, for our two gorgeous dogs and for our garden.Finally the day came and we returned to our home.It was an emotional journey for us and our children.We had won this far.Mr. Nayyar was delighted to see Litches and Mangoes on our trees.He took a sigh of relief breathing the sweet air and lying in the comfort of his own bed.

After a week, we had to go back for our follow up.We were told all was well and if Mr. Nayyar continued to eat well orally, the Jejunostomy tube could be removed.Mr. Nayyar was excited to hear this and chose to have it removed.It meant he would be freed of the hassle of daily dressing of the site, 2 hourly flushing and may be able to sleep better.

Doctors advised us for 3 monthly check ups from now on.We returned to Dehradun and started hoping to lead a near normal life again.But Mr. Nayyar was never comfortable.He always complained of stomach pain and constipation.He was prescribed pain relief and antacids to relieve stomach discomfort.Mr. Nayyar would struggle to find a comfortable posture to sleep in.As his stomach anatomy had changed and the GI sphincters that prevent regurgitation of food had been surgically removed, he constantly had regurgitation and more when lying down.This would cause microaspiration of his stomach contents into his lungs and therefor make him cough constantly.The only advise doctors could give was to have small frequent meals and keep the bed head raised.Even with these measures we could not get rid of the problem.Mr. Nayyar realized he had to live with it.

                                                       Happiness returns to Dehradun