Remembering Tauji today…although you have left all of us for your heavenly abode but your fond and inspiring memories live in our hearts.
The world knew Tauji as Shri Surendra Pal Singh Rana. God did not bless him with children and Tauji and Taiji adopted Taiji’s niece. After retiring from the Govt.job as Nayab Tehsildaar he settled in our paternal home at Meerut. He was second of all the siblings. His life is a living example of the wonders which optimism, courage and will-power can bring about.
In 1990,he seemed to have some minor symptoms indicating a kidney problem for which my sister Dr.Rekha Panwar who was then studying in the Medical College took him for consultation in Surgery Deptt. where he was diagnosed as a case of Renal Cell Carcinoma. An operation was planned immediately by renowned surgeon Prof.V.B. Bhatnagar . One of the kidneys was removed by Nephrectomy in Meerut Medical College. Tauji improved rapidly after the surgery and as time passed, cancer seemed to be a temporary nightmare.
In 1994, he felt a mass in abdomen and drew everybody’s attention to it. It was found to be a firm matted mass of para-aortic lymph nodes sticking all around the aorta. All in the family were alarmed and immediately took medical advice. He was also a patient of Hypothyroidism, Diabetes and Hypertension and also very weak at that time so Doctors in Meerut didn’t advice surgery as there were many chances that he would not return alive from the operation theatre. But if left in that condition, the prognosis was barely a 1 or 2 months according to the specialists. My brother Dr. Rajeev Singh was working as Senior Resident in Surgery at that time in Holy Family Hospital Delhi under Dr. Mahajan. So he decided to take Tauji for an opinion to him. Dr. Mahajan, agreed that the surgery was a very high risk one but operation could be planned if the patient conceded after knowing the risk. After returning from Delhi, I still remember the whole family was in a dilemma…after much discussion the situation was truthfully conveyed to Taiji. The whole family then decided to tell Tauji the truth and do whatever he decided. Tauji decided to go for the surgery..he said “Either I will go or stay” “ If surgery is successful then at least there is a chance that I can live but if it is not done then I have to go…how do a few days matter. It is either this side or that.” The surgery was planned in Holy Family, it was an emotional moment when all of us had tears in our eyes as Tauji bade farewell saying “ Don’t know if I will be able to see you all and my dear home again.”It had been explained that he could expire on the OT table. With God’s grace and the operating surgeons’ expertise, the surgery was successful. Those were happy times, I still remember…all were happy as though we had won a battle.
After recovering from the surgery, a month of Radiotherapy was planned. It was done in Kamla Nehru Hospital Allahabad. Tauji and Taiji stayed at my Bhabhi Dr.Anurita Singh’s home for a month where her mother LateMrs.Saroj Baveja and Buaji Prof.Raj Baveja, who is a renowned Gynaecologist, and was in Kamla Nehru Hospital at that time, took real care of them. The whole family will always be thankful to them. After 1 month of radiotherapy, Tauji and Taiji returned from Allahabad and Tauji was never ever troubled by cancer again in his life. Decisions are so important in life. One minute can change the destiny of man. If Tauji would not have opted for surgery, he would have left us 20 years back.
My father and Tauji…
Happy family times….
Tauji lived a normal life after that, going for regular medical treatment to Dr. Adhip Mitra, a renowned Senior Physician in Meerut. A few years back Chronic Renal Failure was diagnosed but I can say that with only one kidney and that too in failure, Tauji managed well with only medical treatment needing hospital admission for minor problems only twice or thrice. In April 2013, his Serum Urea and Creatinine which had been stable for so long, started rising. Dialysis was advised but both Tauji and Taiji were not in favour of it as Tauji was very weak . At first we listened to him but he started becoming drowsy , had vomittings and was in a bad state. One morning my father came with tears in his eyes and said, “ I can’t see him like this…lets go for dialysis and leave to God. What do you say?!” My husband Dr.Veerottam Tomer was already of the same opinion and I too thought that we should leave no stone unturned. So Papa took Tauji for dialysis continuously for 2 months. His drowsiness went away and he was alert talking to everyone and much better. But one day when he returned after dialysis, he was drowsy and in a bad state. Immediately he was admitted where he was found to be in Septicaemia, Dr. Veerottam put him on ventilator for a few days and then miraculously was weaned off from it. Here I saw a Doctor’s judgement and dedication to save a patient. Everyone advised him against putting Tauji on ventilator and not trouble him too much but my husband told me “He will live long after this if we treat him and being doctors we must try to save the patient till the last breath.” His words proved to be true. Tauji came out of ventilator, was shifted to home much better and was conscious. Although he was bed-ridden but was otherwise perfectly fine.Taiji took great care of him at this time. Started walking with support after sometime. The most amazing part was that his serum urea and creatinine had stopped rising even without dialysis. Every doctor found this miraculous. He lived 1 year after that enjoying all the festivals always thanking all the doctors and family members for taking so much care of him. He completed 80 years in January and 55 years of marriage in May.
On 30th May I got a call from Taiji, she said, “Beta! It seems your Tauji will leave us all today, he wants to meet you… is remembering Veerottam and Rajeev a lot.” I went immediately…his eyes were closed, and he immediately recognized me as I kept my hand on his forehead saying “Tauji…” He immediately responded “Haan Beta” .He seemed to have difficulty in speaking. I sat there holding his hand for sometime. My husband and Rajeev Bhaiya too met him….blood tests were sent. It was in the morning of 31st May that Tauji breathed his last peacefully at home…..
All of us will always miss him. His life being an example for us and the ultimate proof that,
“ If you love life, life loves you”
We will always love you Tauji…May your blessed soul rest in peace…Thank you for being in our life….
Your daughter,
Gudia.
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