Why they Kill

Friday, August 30, 2019

TIME IS ALL WE NEED

Today, I and Shikha (both BSW SWS) met a cancer patient, Vinay Kumar, age 43 from Jalandhar. Most unfortunate thing is that he has been diagnosed with blood cancer last stage. Savita mam (MSW SWS) day before yesterday posted a message in our group regarding the need of a caretaker for a cancer patient and I approached her and arranged few caretakers, but when I called her yesterday morning, she told me a very devastating news that Vinay had been told by doctors that he has just three months to live and this led to him being depressed and suicidal. So, I and Shikha decided to go and meet Vinay in person in PGI. When I called Vinay over phone, he told me he is very weak, frail and debilitated person and cannot talk. We told him that we would meet him in Radiation Department and we met him there. To our eyes, it was hard to believe that such a young person has been diagnosed with such a dreadful disease. We talked to him at great length and told him that certainty of death is such an uncertainty that nobody can tell when it is going to come and living life to fullest is all what we have to do no matter what life gives us whether it is sorrow or joy, hope or failure, and so on. He realized that we were right to some extent and then he told us that he just wishes to be on his feet and want to have some strength in his legs and arms so that he can sustain for himself. We asked him to tell us how we can help him in this crucial time and then he said that he would like some home prepared meals of course if it does not bother us. We both marked our duties and divided time for food delivery to Vinay. In evening when I went to meet Vinay, he was distraught to such a level that he didn't even bother to touch the food and just talked with me for a long one hour and vented out his emotions. At that point, I realized that food is just merely a connection between us, all that he wants to do is to meet someone who could hear him and he could ventilate his emotions out so that he could be at ease and peace. I don't know for how much long he will be there with us in Chandigarh, but I am sure that I will be going to him every day to provide him comfort and peace.

The purpose of this message is to make aware my colleagues that we have such a man in our lives who needs our time and space so that he could attain peaceful closure. Life for Vinay will become more and more tough and painful in the upcoming days. Any comfort given to him will worth a lot. If anybody wishes to meet Vinay or want me to convey his or her wishes, I would be glad to do so. Contact me at any time.

Avtar Singh Cheema (#7986609911)

CLOSURE

It is never easy to close a chapter in life. People meet, get together for momentary lapse of time and then fly to unknown destinations that they have never been to. It is a life and death cycle. All per wishes of Lord is happening all around us and we are nothing but puppets in His game. The characters which are given to us, we play and after our role is over, we move on to next stage.

Today, marks the end of life of Vinay, the terminal cancer patient, who expired at 10:30 p.m. last night, 29/30/2019. I meet him and gave him food last time. I tried my best to comfort him but he knew that this night was last in his life. He started to develop shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, and restlessness. He was admitted to Emergency Room Triage. It was very unfortunate that nobody of his own blood relation or relative or friend was with him during this time. In the morning, I got call from Savita mam (MSW SWS) who informed me about his death. I was not in shock nor terribly depressed after hearing the news because I knew if he would have lived a little longer, he would have suffered a lot because of his terrible physical symptoms of fluid build-up in all parts of body and being all alone he might have died in some hotel room and nobody would have known. His condition was deteriorating minute by minute. At least now I can have a closure as to he might have passed in the hands of doctors who would have tried to save him at the last moment too. These days with him made me more wise, and taught me things that I was unaware of previously that how uncertain our live is and we have not made full use of it till now. Now, I have clear path and clear goals and I am oriented to helping people in my profession of Social Work. I wish all my colleagues get this message and put their sincere and honest efforts in their field of social work and help others for which they have chosen this field.

Please say a few words in your daily prayer for Vinay so that he can rest in peace and move on.

Regards,

Avtar Singh Cheema (BSW SWS)