The events of the day held a fascinating tale.
Last night, driven by curiosity, I explored the realm of snake venom. Studying its biochemistry and effects on the body after a snakebite, I marveled at how these venomous creatures target our nerves, muscles, blood vessels, platelets, and kidneys, even forming dangerous clots in vital organs. I sought to apply this knowledge to optimize the use of anti-snake venom and drugs at the bedside of snakebite victims.
As my residents cared for a krait-bitten patient in the ICU, I delved into the unique paralysis caused by kraits and Cobras, focusing on muscles like the eyes, tongue, pharynx, larynx, and those involved in breathing. My goal was to ensure evidence-based approaches for optimal care.
It was a strange coincidence, as if the universe was conspiring to guide me on my quest for knowledge. A phone call shattered the stillness of the afternoon. It was Dr. Subodh Mohan, a former student from the class of 1979 at MGIMS, who had completed his MD in Medicine thirty-five years ago. Calling from Bulandshahar, his urgency was palpable as he sought my guidance on managing a krait bite at his hospital. The patient had just arrived, and immediate action was required.
I clarified to him that once paralysis sets in, the damage to the neuromuscular system has already occurred, and the primary objective of treatment shifts towards providing supportive care. Neither antivenom nor neostigmine are effective in reversing the paralysis. The best course of action is to provide support through a mechanical ventilator, which assists with breathing, until the patient’s nerves have a chance to regenerate.
But the wonders of the day didn’t end there. As the evening approached and my granddaughters returned home from school, a new adventure awaited me. We became completely engrossed in an intriguing word puzzle 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗹𝗲, a delightful game where we had to guess a five-letter word using limited attempts. With each guess, the game provided feedback, guiding us on which letters were right and in the correct position, which ones were right but in the wrong place, or if we had completely missed a letter. We continued guessing, determined to uncover the hidden word.
Our excitement knew no bounds as we successfully solved the puzzle in the fourth attempt. We correctly guessed the hidden word “VENOM” together, celebrating our victory.
I stood there, bewildered, pondering the extraordinary alignment of events. Just the previous night, I had immersed myself in the realm of kraits and cobras, studying their venom and its effects. Then, out of the blue, a long-distance call came, seeking my expertise on snakebite management. And to top it all off, while engaging in a word puzzle later in the day, the word “venom” emerged as the final answer. It was truly astounding how these incredible coincidences unfolded all within a single day.
Perhaps, it was a testament to the power of dreams and thoughts, as the popular Marathi adage says, “You dream what you think.” Indeed, life has a peculiar way of granting us what we seek, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.
