We were in a dilemma. I know it is not fatal – Pranav cried, he is conscious, and fine. But the wound is big, and open, infection can prove dangerous. On the other side, we are in a place where we don’t know the language, no idea on where or how we can reach a medical centre. We need to find a doctor who can analyse the situation and stitch the wound.
Another fear also was that if we were asked to stay back for taking some tests, scans, and get admitted; I could surely expect if this had happened in Chennai for a tourist and he goes to one of the big hospitals. It may be necessary, or may be just a way to make a little quick money.
Both of us lost our appetite and were thinking over and over. I think I should appreciate Krithi for her maturity and for her trust in me to think through the problem we would get in to than just screaming out to save ‘her’ child! I would expect that from a normal Indian mother, not to blame!
We decided to check at the reception what to do. Already two hours past the incident, it is
He took me to the pub next door, pulled out the barman there and asked me to explain to him the situation. And then, it was easy. Once he got the story, he told me to not to panic and just bring Pranav down.
I thought he is planning to have some first aid, and the way he told also looked like ‘I will take care’. But I was surprised to see an ambulance with lights blinking waiting for us!
We both were prepared to surrender myself to face any situation now. Pranav was cool; he was excited to enter the blue rolling light and siren, proudly sitting inside it! The journey to the hospital was around 5-6 kms. I was calculating the maximum I could pay with my debit and credit cards… and what to do if the bill crosses these limits…!
It went in to a small hospital, they call it poly clinic. None of the ambulance staff spoke English, none in the polyclinic too. At the reception, the ambulance staff explained something. The lady at the reception asked for Pranav’s passport, then checked ours.
‘Tourist?’ she asked.
‘Yes’.
Our conversation ended. Then, she was asking some questions to the person (in his early 50s) who was in the ambulance gang. She made entries in her system from the passport, and asked us to wait. There was another family who got a less than a year old baby who fell from the bed. There were only them waiting with us, who had to come with their baby at this late hour of a Monday. They spoke English. Pranav was sitting with half-sleep, and I could see the agony of uncertainty in his face also.
A 5-10 minutes wait, we were called in. A senior doctor and two post graduate junior doctors, all three females, welcomed us. We thought we will get an English response there at least, but no luck! They saw the wound, the senior doctor instructed something to the two, possibly post graduate students. They asked us to hold Pranav firm. With Krithi holding his legs, one of the students holding his hands, the other did the stitching, while I was holding his head firm. I was wondering why there is no local anesthesia. Krithi started crying seeing Pranav crying loudlyL. The students consoled her saying it will be fine quickly (this too is a translation I assume). Once it was done, Pranav was not anymore crying. He was happily up and was thanking the doctorsJ, my little brave boy! The senior doctor gave me a paper which detailed/proved about the treatment done. I asked them on why there is no local anesthesia used. They told some reason why they didn’t give anesthesia. She also told that the stitches will be absorbed, no more attention needed (But that too was my pick from her body language as she spoke in Italian). I didn’t understand a thing, but I nodded with a thankful smile as if I understood it all.
Then I was checking the papers of the treatment given, the bill was missing! I went to the reception asking where to pay! She didn’t understand, and on the contrary, seeing me looking for something, the lady suddenly ‘discovered’ that I am worried as to how to go back and she said (in English) ‘will call taxi for you’ and went in!! I was just stuck…not sure what to do!
Luckily met the English speaking family again and I put my question to him. He told me with a smile, ‘It is all free, no money’!
It is Free?! I can’t believe it! At an odd hour of night, you call ambulance, go to the hospital, and get your kid’s head stitched… all for Free!!! It is not so in any country I know!
The taxi was ready for us in less than ten minutes, and we were in our hotel in another 5-10 minutes. Actually, the taxi driver spoke better English. And all I paid was the 10 Euros for Taxi! We had a peaceful sleep back in hotel.
Thank you,