Dark Clouds

Arun Patil

These are not the best of times for the Club. Behind all our laughter and bonhomie, there lurks a dark sense of foreboding and uncertainty which seems to be getting worse by the day. The clouds which arrived with the monsoon this year have not yet lifted – neither literally nor metaphorically.
The latest cause for concern is Arun Patil. He was seen limping for the past few days and last evening, he was hospitalized with a near gangrenous foot. It seems a shoe bite (below his little toe) had developed into a sore after he slipped and fell in the bathroom.

Hem Chand Jain

The delicate skin split open and over time, turned septic. It would have become gangrenous had he not sought medical help yesterday.
Arun has a diabetic foot. Not only do wounds take long to heal, he lacks the normal sensations of pain, particularly on his toes where nerve endings are damaged. So wide awake, he underwent an elaborate surgical procedure yesterday and is now biding time, all trussed up at Prabhakar Shetty Hospital, Telli Gali, Andheri (East).

Not the best of times...

Apparently the infection has hit the bone and it may take a week or so to heal; but the good news is that the foot can be saved. So have the doctors assured Arun.
Meanwhile Srichand Arora informs us that Hem Chand Jain is also in a very bad shape and was hospitalized for four days. The 85-year-old has to undergo dialysis twice a week and suddenly last week-end began vomiting uncontrollably. His condition is now being described as “stable”, but he must take complete bed rest.
As for Ghasi Ram Garg, there have been some persistent rumours that he was brought home earlier this week from Kokilaben Hospital. His wife, Neelam today informed that he is still in ICU, attached to a ventilator and after 13 days, is yet to regain consciousness. “He has been able to open his eyes a couple of times and doctors even tried to make him sit up, but in vain,” she narrated. “Please keep praying for him.”
Jagmohan Papneja:
Lifestyle management plays a key role in the prevention and control of many diseases. The ill-effects of diabetes and high blood pressure (especially when a person has both) are extremely grave. Do undergo medical check-ups periodically. After all, prevention is better than cure.