“We cannot help everyone, but everyone can help someone” – Renold Regan.
For a common man, the journey of being an inpatient begins with a gush of fear about the four robust walls that restrict his family members, and continues with a ferocious anguish by listening to beep noises on machines. The puzzled state which brings out a horrific expression on relatives when they are not allowed to accompany their disabled loved ones is naturally obvious. ‘Born miles away, Bonds quick a way; Kindness is inbuilt, Though muscle is not; Spreading smiles across, Glistening tiles all across; Adorned in blue, To wipe away all blues; Helping is a nature, Helper is an emotion.’ How smooth a heart should be, to accept anyone as one’s own child, no matter the age!
How wholesome a soul must be to groom a person not known before, to feed someone with lots of love and to attend to others’ personal care without even a wince of hesitance subconsciously? “A real hero is not measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart’ – Hercules. Any heart melts down with the sight of a young, feeble, tired lady putting all her effort to mobilise an obese, middle aged paraplegic man. However strong be the pain they feel, alas! it’s never voiced out. With no idea about transmissibility of a disease, being posted in an isolation ward, these souls adorn ill-fitting personal protection equipments and gear up themselves as frontline warriors with utmost punctuality.
When the half baked knowledge of a staff nurse spreads its aroma on measles and herpes zoster, their hearts skip a beat worrying about their little kids at home. The affection shown on unknown relatives at workplace is hardly comparable to that shed on their own children, as there is nothing bigger than the ‘fear of illness’ within the family for any healthcare worker. To bother about the litters on the corridors and randomly scattered footwear never makes them inferior, as regarding workplace as their home is a pride for these souls. By the end of the day, all the mops in the wards crave for some rest with a low, husky voice. When the monitor alarms for bradycardia, the ignition of resuscitation team sets these spectators on toes to be helpful in some way but when the task goes in vain, some tears roll down with a heavy heart having no idea on the medical condition.
Words are not enough to thank for their service rendered on the bodies with departed souls. “Only a life lived for others is a life worth while” – Albert Einstein. The life of every healthcare worker is so noble in its own way. When the ones on the top of the pyramid are well recognised with name and fame, the ones at the bottom are actually not and inspite of which spreading love and happiness remains their motto. Perhaps World needs more of such Souls for its sustenance. Praise to all HOSPITAL CLEANERS AND HELPERS.
By: Dr Lakshmi Priya
