K. Rambabu* (65) never married, and had lived alone for 35 years at Matunga Labour Camp. His untethered ‘freedom’ meant that he worked hard, leaving in the morning and returning from work only late at night. Rare for someone living in the area, he spoke good English and was always game for conversation about anything under the Sun. He was the local knowledge bank at Matunga Labour Camp and well liked in the community.
Things would have gone on as they had for three decades, but Rambabu had inguinal hernia. The boys in the community knew he was alone and hence shifted him to the community centre for proper care. Rambabu's health was deteriorating and he soon became home bound. The community centre provided his meals when he could no longer work; but the centre couldn’t give him medical assistance. A failing health meant there had to be causes other than hernia.
Initially Rambabu was reluctant to talk to community outreach workers, but when he yielded gradually a doctor from the department of preventive and social medicine (PSM) visited him at the community centre. The doctor confirmed that his hernia needed prompt surgery, and also diagnosed that Rambabu was severely diabetic and had a high blood pressure. Immediately, the social worker in-charge of the case took the case to the surgical OPD of the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital (aka Sion Hospital). A doctor from the department of surgery was to perform the relatively minor hernia surgery.
However, during the pre-operation check-up, it was noticed that Rambabu had multiple hitherto undiagnosed health issues. A battery of tests were conducted before the operation and the decision was made to operate. The surgery was a success but the test results were grave. All this while Rambabu had cancer, it was now in its terminal stage. His medical expenses were taken care of, but the doctors said that medicines at this point couldn’t contain his cancer. He needed palliative care.
Thus, Rambabu was brought back to the community centre where his nutritional and medical needs were met. The boys from the community provided emotional anchorage since Rambabu never had a family and had fallen out with everyone he knew. He spent his last few days in good spirits, glad to be taken care of. He died within a week of discharge from the hospital but it was a dignified death.
More importantly, he didn’t die alone.
*Actual name withheld for privacy.
Things would have gone on as they had for three decades, but Rambabu had inguinal hernia. The boys in the community knew he was alone and hence shifted him to the community centre for proper care. Rambabu's health was deteriorating and he soon became home bound. The community centre provided his meals when he could no longer work; but the centre couldn’t give him medical assistance. A failing health meant there had to be causes other than hernia.
Initially Rambabu was reluctant to talk to community outreach workers, but when he yielded gradually a doctor from the department of preventive and social medicine (PSM) visited him at the community centre. The doctor confirmed that his hernia needed prompt surgery, and also diagnosed that Rambabu was severely diabetic and had a high blood pressure. Immediately, the social worker in-charge of the case took the case to the surgical OPD of the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital (aka Sion Hospital). A doctor from the department of surgery was to perform the relatively minor hernia surgery.
However, during the pre-operation check-up, it was noticed that Rambabu had multiple hitherto undiagnosed health issues. A battery of tests were conducted before the operation and the decision was made to operate. The surgery was a success but the test results were grave. All this while Rambabu had cancer, it was now in its terminal stage. His medical expenses were taken care of, but the doctors said that medicines at this point couldn’t contain his cancer. He needed palliative care.
Thus, Rambabu was brought back to the community centre where his nutritional and medical needs were met. The boys from the community provided emotional anchorage since Rambabu never had a family and had fallen out with everyone he knew. He spent his last few days in good spirits, glad to be taken care of. He died within a week of discharge from the hospital but it was a dignified death.
More importantly, he didn’t die alone.
*Actual name withheld for privacy.
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