Salute
She enters my cabin, she sits slowly on the chair looking at me
I sense her apprehension, her despair, her fear
I look into her tearful eyes, I read the report, confirm the news
I purse my lips, nod my head and tell her, 'We will fight it, dear'
She looks into my eyes, I see the glitter of tears in hers
Her face shows a mixed emotion, hope looks thin
On her hand on my table, I place my hand, I don’t say anything, I just look at her
And then she looks, a subdued smile, and says, "I will Fight, I will win!"
Then the ordeal starts, surgery is planned first
I walk with her to the operating room, her hubby and daughter praying at the gate
She holds my hand and says, ”Doc, please do your best, get me out of this”
“Trust me, I will”, I say; her words reverberating in my mind, while I operate
Surgery is successful, her body is rid of cancer; she recovers well
Since next day, I see a smile of hope, happiness on her face by default
She is one strong lady, a will of iron, a determination so strong
A fighter she is, now preparing herself for the next assault
Pathology report is good, but she will need further treatment
And so starts chemotherapy, the molecules enter through her tiny hand veins
Her bald head and blackish skin edges speak of the fight of body with cancer within
She smiles and tells, "Side effects of chemo don’t bother me, I look only at its gains"
She is an inspiration, she is positive, I see her ride her way through these down times
She is unshakeable, but does feel low at times when sadness creeps in
The shoulder of her husband to rest on and her daughter’s hand on her cheeks
Rescue her from it, and place the smile on her face back in
Chemotherapy is now over, next starts radiation
Her face and body are weathered by all this treatment so high
But her positive attitude, the glow on her face, the determination in her eyes
Just stand out and teach me; Yes, I learn from her, "Never Say Die"
She visits me in my cabin, a joy on her face
Her treatment is now complete, her prayers finally heard
These six months of treatment were like six full years,
A battle so fiercely won, a disease well conquered
I see in her eyes, the eyes of a winner
Her bald head with sparse hair, her black nails tell her tale of endurance
Throughout the war, never did the smile go, her fist was always strongly clenched
Never was the grit low; even in down times, her face always had assurance
Each and every patient of mine teaches me a lot, is an inspiration for me and other patients
And I owe them for moulding me, showing me importance of life, making me tough
Life throws challenges at us, we have to be positive
Just believe in yourself, stay strong, and the path automatically opens up
Written by Dr. Sumeet Shah