I was in a daze. This was the time before mobile phones, so there was no texts or updates coming from mum nor my cousin. My friend Jana (Janaki) was there with me. She was another reason why I started writing about this particular story. This story is as much of a story about my dad and that fateful day, it is also a time to sincerely thank my best buddy who turned fifty a couple of days ago. This was all meant to be written, completed and handed over to her on her birthday, but let’s blame that darn clock again.
I don’t think I could have survived those sixteen days and after that without her. She stands tall and strong (literally as well), and carried us through the dredge. She pretty much did everything for me. Eventually she even found me a husband. Well, she did a pretty lazy job as she didn’t, search long or far. She just picked her brother who was probably just reading a book in a corner and thought why not. So, now we are sister-in-laws. Well, I have forgiven her for that.
The clock was ticking but the time stood still. Still no news from the hospital. Didn’t even know which hospital they went to. Eventually mum and my cousin returned home. Dad was in intensive care unit and was doing okay.
Things were settling down. We felt that we have jumped the biggest hurdle but we were sure that we had cleared it. Dad was going to get better.
He was in the ICU for about two days or so. The ECG and all the others tests indicated that his heart was okay and may not have been a heart attack that he experienced.
There was still the occasional memory blanks and him talking gibberish. They suspected an aneurysm in the brain, and sent him for an angiogram. Which showed that he in fact had an aneurysm in the brain. This was not good news.
The roller coaster was back in operation. Questions of should he be operated in Sri Lanka or should he be sent overseas, the success rate etc were hashed around. You have to also keep in mind this was 31 years ago and in Sri Lanka where the technology was not as great as it is now.
My uncles gathered to discuss the pros and cons, overseas vs local. My uncle in England, who also happens to be a doctor, found out that, airlifting him would be very dangerous. And the success rate of the local doctor seemed to be in par with the overseas doc’s. So a collective decision was made to go ahead with the surgery with the Local Doctor.
Uma's life and thoughts 
I am in such suspense!
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These days would have been the worst dreadful days in your life. But you were still lucky that you had a good friend stood by you. I knew Janaki’s husband Late Ganeshan very well. I knew Nesan mama and mami as well
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Yes it was a very tough time in my life. And yes, having Jana by my side was what got me through. Anna (late Ganesh) was sailing at that time. Him and I were very close too. Among all my cousins he was the one i was most close to. Our fathers being twins and both of us having no siblings probably was the reason for it. Wish he was there. Wish both my dad and him were still here
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