Tag: inspiration

Down The Memory Lane- My Speaking Journey

Down The Memory Lane- My Speaking Journey

©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker Last week, my son had one of his first serious #publicspeaking assignments at school. As always, he wanted to set a benchmark for himself. With no siblings for comparison, he turned to my husband and me, eager to hear about our 

Beyond the prescription

Beyond the prescription

Beyond the prescription ©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker I’ve always enjoyed talking to my patients, and as much as I love surgery, I truly cherish my time in the OPD. However, the time available in the OPD is limited, and we need to cover a lot 

Hope and healing

Hope and healing

©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker

One of the most powerful stories that Homo Sapiens have passed on from generation to generation over thousands of years, is the story of “hope”. “Hope” is our true super-power. Hope can work miracles. Without “hope”… well… everything will be … “hopeless”…(no prize for guessing that)!

Hope is unique to our species. No other animal can boast of being able to feel this magical emotion. Human children are born brimming with hope. One just needs to look into those innocent eyes to feel it. However, with time, this reservoir of hope starts diminishing. As we grow up, few of us become childishly optimistic, some lean towards realism and many turn a tad pessimistic.

Like in everything else, “hope” is a very important ingredient in the potion of healing too. It is a lifesaving elixir for the patient and serves as a vital anchor for the anxious family members. It is no secret that patients who lose hope have poorer outcomes as compared to those who do not. A lot has been written about the role of “hope” in ailing patients and their families, however not much has been said about the significance of “hope” in doctors. It is simply assumed the doctors are the most “hopeful” of all adult humans. Can you imagine a doctor who is “not hopeful”?

As doctors, we start our professional careers by training on dead people (That’s not very high on hope score!). By the time we complete our medical training, we have already seen more sickness and death than any normal human would in their entire lifetime. We frequently witness the fragility of life and very often have to bow down to the forces of nature. Yet, as paradoxical as it seems, we have to dispense “hope” in every prescription that we write.

Does the reservoir of “hope” diminish in doctors as they age or does it increase? This is a million-dollar question. Doctors are like old wine. They are said to get better with age and experience. As years pass by, we see that many more people live through their sicknesses and regain their health, as compared to those who enter the doors of a mortuary. We come across many patients who defy all odds and overcome the worst of diseases. And though we spend a lot of time studying complications, we all know that complications are rare and rare things happen rarely. Thanks to advances in medical science, today most people are living twice as long as they were living a hundred years ago. Not only are they living longer, they are living healthier and looking better too. There is every reason to be hopeful.

However, the true measure of hope for a doctor lies in how they navigate challenging situations. Every healthcare professional encounters difficult cases at some point in their career. These could encompass complex medical scenarios, cases with uncertain prognosis, difficult decision making, ethical dilemmas, emotionally charged relatives, legal threats etc.

We can never have all the answers when it comes to complex case scenarios, but years of experience engrave subtle patterns in our minds, aiding us in anticipating the clinical trajectory of a specific patient. Our minds weave together a tapestry of various stories and clinical situations, forming a powerful network of interconnected experiences and insights that significantly enhance our clinical ability. Many times, we are not able to pinpoint the exact pathology, but these interwoven stories serve as valuable reference points, enabling us to recognize patterns, identify key indicators, and make informed decisions in patient care. So, when an experienced doctor exudes hope, it signifies a profound understanding and confidence rooted in years of experience and learning. Hope is not just an abstract emotion in medicine, hope is entrenched in a blend of evidence and experience.

Sometimes the inability to achieve desired results despite best efforts can lead to feelings of frustration and failure. At times, coping with their own emotions can be quite overwhelming for doctors and the idea of “hope” can feel very elusive. Well, doctors are human too and can be as emotional and vulnerable as everyone else. Also, though the doctor patient relationship is often gratifying, the weight of responsibility always lies on the doctor’s shoulders and it can become a tad burdensome at times. At such times, just like we write prescriptions of “hope” for our patients, we need to understand the value of rejuvenating ourselves also from time to time. We also need to understand that battles are never won by lone warriors, it usually takes an army to defeat the enemy. On days when our “hope” reservoir is running low it makes perfect sense to take a break and let someone else take charge.

In the realm of medicine, hope emerges as a vital thread. Despite the challenges doctors continue to dispense hope, navigating through complexities with resilience and compassion. Empowered by knowledge and years of experience, hope transcends being merely a destination; and becomes a continual journey shared by patients and healers alike.

EMPATHY AND OBJECTIVITY- A DELICATE BALANCE

EMPATHY AND OBJECTIVITY- A DELICATE BALANCE

©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker As doctors, we love evidence-based medicine! Most of us believe in the old adage- “In God we trust. All others must bring data.” We are deeply impacted by impact factors and the graph of our pride rises in direct proportion to 

All You Need is Love and Flowers

All You Need is Love and Flowers

Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker   There are good days and then there are the bad days. How much ever we wish for life to follow a logical course, every day the sun rises with new challenges. Some that can be tackled, some that are pushed 

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER

By- Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker

I am a Mumbai girl and nothing defines Mumbai better than its local trains. Over the last few months, I have gradually shifted to using local trains a lot more than my car, which to be honest is more of a burden than convenience, in this over crowded city. Trains are undoubtedly faster when one has to get to multiple hospitals in a single day. Deep down I also feel happy about indirectly reducing my overall carbon footprint and doing my bit for the future generation.

Local train journeys in Mumbai can be quite entertaining and I have come to enjoy them mostly. (Except for the times when one may get crushed to near death!) Very often there are small time vendors selling their goods to the passengers. On one such day, I observed an old lady who walked with the support of a stick. She was extremely frail and bent over. Her head kept shaking with the slightest of movement. She must be in her eighties nearing ninety for sure. As I saw her boarding the train, I thought of getting up and giving her my seat. However, I was in for a pleasant surprise. As she entered the train compartment, she stabilized herself on her stick and took out a dozen colourful bracelets from a worn out bag to sell to the passengers. Now, I am not very fond of jewellary but that day, I felt compelled to buy that bracelet. I paid ten rupees and kept it in my bag, knowing fully well that I will never wear it.

A few days later, I saw her again. Bent over her stick, with her head shaking all the time, there she was. Once again, I felt compelled to buy one of the bracelets. The third time this happened, I saw a glint of recognition in her eyes and a tiny hint of a smile. As she glanced at my empty wrists, none of us needed to say anything.

It has been 3 months since I saw her last. Every time I am in that train, my eyes look for her. I wonder if she is well, as I have no way of knowing her whereabouts.

However, the bracelet has found its permanent place as it lies in my bag. I am not superstitious but it is my lucky charm. A charm that reminds me that age is just a number and it is always possible to earn a respectable living till our last breath. Every time I open my bag, the shiny bracelet looks up at me and inspires me to go on, to work hard and to live life to its best potential. And one day, when I close my eyes forever, I will lie there peacefully knowing that I gave it my best, always.

#HerStory #inspiration #motivation #draparnagovilbhasker

THE GIRL IN THE HIJAB

THE GIRL IN THE HIJAB

“THE GIRL IN THE HIJAB” By- Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker It was midnight as I stepped out of Mumbai airport. I had had a busy week at work. This was a week that pulled me down in many ways. Certain incidents in the week kept