Update: Bhattar visit and more

Ramabhadran visit on 15th:

He spent about 3 hours with Rajesh. He looked cheerful and the count has gone up today. He was also feeling better after the 2nd surgery in the leg. Based on the improvement in the count he will have his third surgery in the leg. Nair has started shaking the leg (His trait from Pilani days) as usual and that gave me the impression that the surgery has had good effect.

Narayanan's call with Rajesh(3/18):

He is doing much better. His counts are on the way up. Had a bath after about a month and a half. The Vellore residents are thankful about that.(his words, not mine) Once his counts are up to a certain amount, he is likely to have his 3rd surgery (to remove localized medicine delivering beads and to graft some bone) on his leg. This will hopefully be the final one. He has started to walk around a bit now, with the assistance of a walker.

Sankaran's dad personally delivered Lindi lotions that we had sent for his use. Was very grateful and happy about that. Donor matching process is still on-going. Awaiting results of the high-res reports on the donor for whom the Confirmatory Typing has been ordered.

They are planning to enroll Hrishi in a school. Uncle, Padmaja and the kids are doing fine, under the circumstances.

Narayanan

Update from another friend who visited Rajesh

Lakshminarayanan studied in BITS with us and visited Rajesh yesterday. His message:

I was on an official visit to Chennai and used the opportunity to visit our dear friend Rajesh who is undergoing treatment at CMC, Vellore. He is in Room 903 Building A9 now. I found Rajesh quite cheerful and looking forward bravely to the chemotherapy sessions ahead of him. His femur bone fracture is healing well. He is able to sit up.

We recalled old times at BITS, names and characteristics of several mutual friends etc. I was allowed to stay there only for about 30-40 minutes. He also mentioned about his work experience so far - in B'lore, middle east etc. While I took leave of him, he said "the prayers of all my friends and family will get me out of this."

On the whole, I got a feeling that he is on a full recovery track. And let us all pray for his speedy and complete return to good health.

Regards

Laksh

Update: Day of femur repair

Update from Rajesh's dad:

Today, the 15th of February 2008, a surgery was successfully performed on Rajesh to stabilize the femur bone with metal inserts. You may recall that a prior attempt to clean up some of the fungal infection on the bone, resulted in a fracture of that bone.

He is recovering well in the ICU. Apparently he had excessive blood loss and required a blood transfusion. But all is well now. He is still in a lot of pain and restless from the effects of the anesthesia and the medication. But all in all a successful surgery by all accounts. Apprently within the next week or two, he will begin the process of physical therapy, which will include walking with crutches. There is hope that at some point in time, he might be able to lose the metal insert, if his bone grafts well.

Could'nt talk to his dad for long, due to all the attention of the doctors that are in the ICU right now, along with him and Rajesh. He said he will give us a clearer/detailed update tomorrow.

So until then.

Narayanan