Monthly Musings : June -21 Quarterly Chemo & Dexa Strikes Back

 

Monthly Musings : June -21 Quarterly Chemo & Dexa Strikes Back

This month was again an extended lock down and thankfully the cases have come down. People are warning of Wave 3. This month was the quarterly chemo which is called Lumbar, Manas had his lumbar and he wanted Dr Salman his favorite doctor to give the injection as it is less painful and normally has less side effects. Dr Salman gave him the injection and Manas was absolutely fine. Dr Shobha said he is doing fine and introduced Dexa tablet for 5 days. In past whenever Manas was given Dexa it led to some or other side effect and hence this was not given in past but as Manas was coping much better she decided to give to him. Manas was not keen but reluctantly agreed. As expected Dexa did strike back and in few days Manas developed rashes and prickly heat kind of pimples. Dr Shobha advised to give him Oilatum and he was better. Later we went for follow up and his parameters were fine. Already 3 quarterly Lumbar are over. The doctor advised that in next visit we do the Echo and Pro BN test.  Manas schools are have become regular and so have his classes for Maths and Accountancy. Manas also finished the draft of his book, aptly titled as ‘It’s Not That Hard’. Me and Shalini reviewed and was very difficult reading what was going through his mind, it also re-enforced the fact that a strong will power and positive mind does wonders to body. I gave my inputs and he is planning to complete it by August. June 6^th was also the 2^nd death anniversary of my mother and we can still feel her presence, am sure she is watching over us. Cheers.

Monthly Musings : May -21 Class 11th Begins

 

Monthly Musings : May -21 Class 11^th Begins

This month was full of lockdown again and groups filled with obituaries. I lost a few distant relatives. This month Manas 11^th grade college started and it was again online classes. This has become new normal. Given the lockdown we did not venture out as there were multiple cases in the apartment. We got a small size TT table and play in my parent house which is now vacant. Manas is finding commerce interesting. Shalini is also taking her classes and is busy. The covid task force has been a fulfilling activity, we had food volunteers and prepared food for covid affected families. We were able to conduct a vaccination drive as well and 230 residents got vaccinated. Shalini got her shot at Apollo. Manas hospital visit was fine and parameters normal. His Vyamada was to be stopped after a Echo is done. Dr Shobha advised not to do the echo till the corona cases come down and asked to continue with the medicines. Manas has not started doing weights to build muscle. He is missing the outside practice of batting in nets or playing badminton, hence we now play with tennis ball inside the house. End of month cases seems to be tapering off and hope there is no 3^rd wave. We now go into the 6^th month of 2021 already. Time seems to fly.

Monthly Musings : April -21 The 2nd Wave Strikes

 Monthly Musings : April -21 The 2^nd Wave Strikes

This month has been the most heart wrenching, where the 2^nd wave of the deadly corona virus spread across the nation. Last year we heard of cases admitted and now groups are filled with obituaries. Manas board exams were cancelled which was as expected and based on internal exams marks will be given. Seeing the dire state of affairs, I took the lead to form a Covid task force in our apartment and that is giving a sense of satisfaction and helping someone in need. The situation is very bad with non-availability of beds, oxygen and medicines. The administration is trying its best but then this what happens when one is not proactive and takes care of the fundamentals. I went and took my first shot of Covi shield vaccine, Shalini hasn’t and by then there was a lock down announced. Manas routine twice a month visit continues and he is parameters were slightly varying hence the 6MP doses were increased to 11. Manas is now reading about 11^th commerce, have started teaching him abouot stock market and investments. He is now following the Chelsea club as well and at home it is IPL, football and chess that is keeping us busy. He has now perfected kneading the chappati dough and making pasta. We have started providing food couple of days a week to covid affected patients and he helps us with that. Praying that this time too shall pass and the world heals itself soon. 

Monthly Musings : March -21 End of Financial Year

 

Monthly Musings : March -21 End of Financial Year

March is month of end of financial year. The month went like a bullet. Manas gave his pre-board exams and did well, much better than his own expectations. We are grateful to Kumarans and their staff who took special care for him. This month he had his 2^nd quarterly chemo cycle of LP, post that his counts dropped and they had stop 6MP medicines for few days. We had to go to hospital every week to check his wbc counts and in 3^rd week it settled down. Manas also decided to do weights exercise and we have increased our frequency of playing badminton as well. On other hand the Corona pandemic seems to have graduated to another level and with cases on rise another lockdown looks imminent. We have not yet taken our vaccine shots and would do next month. An end of financial year for business means taking stock of the year gone by and evaluating the balance sheet comprising of assets and liabilities. For us our Balance Sheet has been great with so many assets and wealth accumulated in form of wellwishers, friends, care, facilities, support, affordability etc that it make us very humbled. Thanks you all.

Monthly Musings : February -21 A Few Days in School

 

Monthly Musings : February -21 A Few Days in School

The month seems to fly past and the covid vaccine is now given to many folks. This month Manas went to school for 4 days and it was one of the happiest moment for him. He could meet some of his friends who are still in Kumarans and in 11^th grade now. Barring a girl who has taken commerce rest all have taken science stream. This month Manas test was done and all normal. There was shortage of 6MP medicines but Dr Shobha could arrange for 15 days. Later went and got for another 10 days. Seems it happens once a while. Gave the gratitude journal to Dr Komal Prasad as well. This month we started going to DHI to play bandminton and it is a good game. Manas also ran 5km run within the apartment complex. He is preparing for his pre-board exams which start in March. Shalini completed writing the autobiography book. I also started running on weekends.  Manas was asked to bat in nets by a guy who has launched a bowling machine. Took interview of Manas and said he speaks well. Manas also participated in Helen O Grady speech competition and spoke well, the topic was ‘The India I Wish To See’. A good month and now summer sets in with March.

Monthly Musings : January -21 A Dawn of new Beginning

 

Monthly Musings : January -21 A Dawn of new Beginning

Finally a new year has set in with the good news that 2 vaccines will be made available in India. This was the most positive news for world and India. For us it was a dawn of new beginning as the year started with Manas monthly review and all his reports were normal, Dr Shobha was happy with the progress and said now she will see once a month. She also allowed that Manas can start cricket coaching but not in group, a delightful news for him. We gave the gratitude journal to her and her team, no better way than showing gratitude as so many people’s prayers were answered. I started venturing out within the apartment and also weekly run, it was so humbling to see known and unknown folks enquiring about Manas health and saying they prayed for us. We are indeed blessed to have such great well wishers around us. The cricket coach said he will start the camp from February. I started giving practice to Manas. We also started playing badminton and that is giving great flexibility to him. Another good news this month was Manas cleared his entrance test and got admission into Kumarans in Commerce Stream. Kumaran’s as an institute has been as great support as anyone, both Deepa Maam and Pushkala Maam have been motivating Manas and encouraging him. This was month when Shalini also embarked on a new experience which was to write a book a biography for one of her friends and she is really enjoying it. This month was when Gauri celebrated her 50^th birthday and her friends made it memorable for her. A month of new beginning is already over and pray for more calmer and better time for the world, it started with a new President in America.

Monthly Musings : December -20 A Year Like Never Before

 

Monthly Musings : December -20 A Year Like Never Before

This month on 5^th Dec Manas had his quarterly chemo which is the LP. The chemo went fine but we had forgotten the side effects hence he had the usual vomiting and mood swings but later in evening he was fine and discharged. Manas had his exams this month and he is now regular with his studies, he did decent in all papers barring Physics which is his tough subject. Shalini arranged for online tution for him. Shalini along with Pushkala maam had gone to Pallakad to do the small pooja which she had prayed for his recovery, the pooja was done nicely and also the astrologer cum priest mentioned that Manas will do quite well and just little more treatment has to continue, which is the maintenance phase. Now we play everyday for an hour. Manas wanted a new set of cricket pad, bat and gloves and we went to Players Choice and got it. He was able to practice in our apartment nets. We also went to Anitha’s Cjhristmas dinner something Manas had promised he will come next year walking on his own and wanted to do that. That was the only other external interaction we had. Sangita and Vishal had also drove down from Pune to meet Manas. The year 2020 has been a transformational year for everyone, it made us face our worst fears, forced us to come out of comfort zones and made us value all those things that we take for granted. Personally 2020 has been the antidote for our 2019 journey and it allowed me to work from home, balance time between Manas and work and made health a priority. I wish the year is seen as Lifes way of first giving a test and then teaching us the subject and 2021 brings in new positivity and hope to everyone. Would like to end the year to all our well wishers, friends, families and not to  mention the amazing doctors and support staff at MSMC who constantly kept us motivated and positive stating this time too shall pass and it did indeed. Have a blessed new 2021.