Sunday, February 10, 2013

Dare, Courge and Achievement!

We are all achievers in a sort. We get tested at various points in life and our replies to the situation with courage, faith and dare will see us through any difficulty. But, the important aspect is humility. It is vital to stay grounded and it gives more balance. A fundamental understanding no two have a same life is important. Everyone is different. The quantum of achievement depends on various factors. A common mistake one grossly commits is comparing. Comparing in either ways (I have achieved more (superiority complex) or I have achieved less (inferiority complex)). No achievement is more and no achievement is less. Achievement is achievement.

Here is one story the world needs to know. If not for anything, but for dare. An living example of courage, perseverance, dare and faith. A fitting reply to what could have been a tragedy. A tragic incident incited the persistent nature within him. The persistence to face it, persistence to fight it, persistence to survive through it...

Feb 11, 2007. 4:30 PM
It was a Sunday afternoon around 4:30 PM and ironically between 4.30 and 6 PM is called raagukalam (inauspicious time). It was one of the finest road in Trichy (Karur by-pass road). Vehicles move faster than usual. Karthik was driving a pulsar with Krishna behind. He would have hardly envisaged the tragedy nearing him. He collided with a loaded truck. Seconds after they collided they spun in the air and unfortunately they landed in the hot ashes of the recently burned waste.

Feb 11, 2007. 5:00 PM
Both of them were admitted in the hospital nearby. They were fortunate that the ambulance was readily available and that the hospital (ABC hospital) was at a stone throw away distance. The doctors said both of them had severe injuries. They said, the severity of the injuries can only be predicted after MRI scan and entire body scan. They were treated in the emergency ward and Karthik was immediately taken for MRI scan.

Feb 11, 2007 6:00 PM
Karthik is known to be a friends delight. He has an army of friends. Most of them had gathered in the hospital by that time, including a college staff member. Karthik had a scan and the scan reports were ready immediately. It was a neurologist Dr.Tripathy who attended to him at the emergency ward. By then, the chief doctor Dr.Mukundan and orthopedic surgeon Dr.Narasimman were ready. He was immediately drafted into ICU and a broader assessments were being made.

Feb 11, 2007 7:30 PM
All the friends were in the hospital including his class girls (of course his class had 65% girls).  Friends are relationships which is tied through not blood, not umbilical cord but by a greater medium called heart. It was hearty to note that almost all of them were in the hospital ready to extend their best possible help. Even though they were students, they brought in thousands of rupees in cash but more than the money an undying attitude to help a friend in need. The chief doctor came out and said that Karthik's entire right side was perilously damaged. He had an head injury including a hemorrhage. Since he had been lying in the hot ashes his right hand had 3rd degree burns. His right leg had multiple fractures, including the knee. A bone in the right side of the body is missing. His heart rate was fluctuating and he was in trauma and not out of shock. Blood pressure was not normal either and a marathon surgery(plural) needed to be performed. The estimated time of the surgery was around 10-12 hrs. Only after then they could further assess his chances of survival. Krishna was in a much better condition and he was out of danger. The doctor said that the surgery is scheduled at midnight and they require around 20 units of blood. 20 units of blood was ready in less than 5 mins. Most of his classmates donated blood.

Feb 11, 2007 11:45 PM
Karthik was taken into operation theatre. All the doctors were in vigil. The anesthesiologist Dr. Mukundan, Dr.Narasimman, Dr. Tripathy and couple of duty doctors along with a fleet of nurses were ready for the marathon multiple surgeries.

Feb 12, 2007 3:00 AM
Dr.Mukundan comes out and calls for a emergency meeting with the representatives of Karthik. He elucidates that Karthik is not able to take the surgery and his response is not convincing. He said that they will be doing another couple of life saving procedures which would last another 5 hours and he asked us to be prepared either ways. Actually, the doctors did their best. There was multiple discussion among the experts and their pursuit in saving the victim was intense. The only response that came from Karthik's representatives is "We trust you doctor".

Feb 12, 2007 8:00 AM
The procedure was complete and he has survived through it. Although all the planned surgeries were not completed, the most important ones were complete. He had to undergo one more procedure the same evening and it was planned for another 6-8 hrs.

Feb 12, 2007 4:00 PM
Karthik still unstable and doctors mulling over if they should take him for the next set of surgeries. The team decides to go ahead with surgeries. It was after all a matter of survival. Karthik was again in the operation theatre but now only with the orthopedist and chief doctor. The procedure was complete around midnight and only now the doctors said they he has survived and out of danger. Almost after 32 hrs. of ordeal, round the clock observations and around 10 surgeries Karthik was out of danger and he has survived.

What happened after that?
Not until Feb 13th, evening after more than 60 hours Karthik gained consciousness. He was not under normal feeding. He slowly started taking fluids after 3 days. He went through another 3 more surgeries the same week and another few more within a month. He was in ICU for around 2
weeks. He was in the hospital for more than 45 days before he got back home. By then, his right leg was completely out of shape, he could hardly use his right hand. He was under physiotherapy sessions and besides regular visits to the hospitals he had to undergo few more surgeries in the following months.

In pic: Karthik receiving his (TCS) letter of appointment from Anna University Vice Chancellor in Nov 2006



Gist of Achivements
1) In April 2007, the college final exams were scheduled, for a person who could hardly sit for sometime, he came to the exam hall with the paralyzed right hand and handled 3 hours of examination. He completed his college degree with flying colors

In Pic: Days before college final examination. He wrote the examination in such condition...




2) He was placed in TCS and was supposed to join by 2007, it got delayed until 2009 and until then he worked as an entrepreneur and learned Search Engine Optimization. He was always willing to learn and burn the midnight oil. Depiction of persistence.

3) Besides undergoing so much physical trauma, he was never bogged down mentally. He was always cheerful. He made sure he got back his shape and fitness to a world class level.

Now...
Working for TCS and ready to achieve more.



Epilogue..
Long story cut short. There are much more details to the whole story which is not mentioned here. It would get really long and the might of the Achivements may get missed due to multiple dimensions. The whole aim of the blog was to depict the whole world on the achievement of Karthik and it may serve as a source of motivation to a few. The missing pieces in the story are the sacrifices and contribution of his family and relatives, the extent to which friends contributed in his recoupment process, support from doctors, support from TCS, support from various other quarters etc. Its a long list of gratitude. Krishna had lesser impact than Karthik but he also had to go through a lot of difficulties surviving through the entire trauma and bodily damage. It is in similar lines with Karthik but there is a slight difference. As I said no two has the same life. But Krishna's achievement is no less than Karthik's.