Hope Smiles

Confusion and concern in the Garden

The air of gloom and uncertainty in the Garden lifted partially this morning as news trickled in of Bapu Rane responding favorably to treatment in hospital (post of May 11). Sitaram Hivarkar, Pratap Bhatt, Ved Prakash Grover and a few others had called on him during the week-end and were “happy to find a marked improvement” in his condition.
The other good news is that Shekhawat is done with the bypass surgery at Asian Heart Institute on Saturday. According to his wife, it was a fairly lengthy procedure lasting almost eight hours and he has come through successful. Yesterday, i.e. on Sunday, he was able to drink half a cup of milk as also a glass of tender coconut water. He will remain in the ICU for one more day after which he is likely to be shifted out and kept under observation for a week.
While assuring us that there is nothing to worry about now, Mrs Shekhawat made a fervent plea to all Club members: PLEASE DO NOT VISIT THE HOSPITAL OR EVEN TRY CALLING MR SHEKHAWAT. He should not be disturbed/ agitated in any manner.

Mohankanwar Shekhawat

Separately, Bapu Rane’s wife also spoke to this blog about the line of treatment taken by Dr Jitendra Tewari, the oncologist attending on her husband. He is said to be a family friend. It seems the first thing the good doctor did upon admitting Rane was to confiscate all his ayurvedic medicines and only then, put him on a fresh regimen.
“The results are already showing,” Mrs Rane narrated. “When I visited him yesterday, he promptly sat up on his own and chatted with me for more an hour. I was seeing him so cheerful after months. The hospitalisation has made this difference. He is in air-conditioned comfort, there is no dust or dirt around, he has nurses and doctors around him all the time… We could not provide him these facilities at home.”
The illness has however, had a toll on her health as well. “We have a practice at home that only after Rane-sah'b has eaten, would I have my meal. After he stopped eating in January, not only I, my sons also became irregular with their food. There were days when nothing was cooked at home. How can you eat when the man of the house goes hungry? Only yesterday, after returning from the hospital, did I have a full meal in a long, long time with my sons!”
Jagmohan Papneja:
We are all happy to know that both our friends, Shekhawat-ji and Rane-ji are on the path to recovery. They will get better and stronger by the day because of the best wishes everyone is sending their way. We will be in touch about them through the blog.
Srichand Arora:
I am really very happy to learn about our dear Shekhawat and our dear Rane. God bless them.
Renu Babani:
He listens... and answers our prayers. Ever so thankful to Him, knowing that these two respected seniors are doing better. May His blessings always be upon them and each day be better than the earlier.