Uncommon story of a common man..!!

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‘’ UNCOMMON STORY OF A COMMON MAN...!!’’
By Shri. Rajeev S. Thatte
AN UNCOMMON
STORY
OF A COMMON
MAN...!!
Rajeev S. Thatte
B.Pharm. (Hons.), M.M.S. (Finance)

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A severe car accident leading to Skull Fracture, Epileptic
fits, Paralysis, Rectal Cancer, Tuberculosis and a Kidney
Donation to wife, all happening in the last twelve years! A
real story of a common man who struggled hard and is
still living cheerfully and happily...!!
Quick brief about myself
Before I start narrating my story, I
would like to give you a very quick
brief about myself.
Although it has nothing to do with the
‘real’ story which I shall tell you, it will
give you a short background of the man
who has undergone so many major
illnesses and is still happy!!
I am Rajeev. Rajeev Shantaram Thatte.
Basically I am a person from a family
of writers and journalists!!
I have done my B. Pharm. from
University Department of Chemical
Technology, Matunga and M.M.S. from
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management
Studies, Mumbai.

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During my college days, I used to write
a weekly science column in Navshakti,
for over four years. I have produced
over 40 programs, on All India Radio,
on various science subjects.
I was also interviewed thrice on
Doordarshan under the program, as a
successful entrepreneur.
I have written stories and articles in
newspapers such as Loksatta, Lokmat,
Tarun Bharat, etc.
I started manufacturing of Ayurvedic
products in 1982, immediately after
doing my B. Pharm, M.M.S. without
taking up any job.
I started manufacturing in my own
factory at Badlapur. It was under the
‘’Young Technicians Assistance
Scheme” of M.S.F.C. and Development
Corporation for Konkan. I got 95% loan
and the balance I borrowed as personal

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fixed deposits from my friends and
relatives. The total cost of project
including land, building, plant &
machinery and working capital was
only Rs. 4, 50,000!!
I was a first generation entrepreneur.
My financial investment in the activity
may have been “zero”, but I more than
made up in innovativeness and
outstanding hard work.
The year 1982, I was the first in India to
come out with Ayurvedic products in
the form of Capsules. The brands were
Energy Forte, Pylinon, Diabetica,
Herthika, Feminine Forte, Urika, Lava,
Asthasol, Livofit, Allergywin,
Rhumiton, Raktaprabha, Bravo-The
brain tonic, Ashutosh Baby Care Tonic
etc. We came out with a booklet on
“Baby Care”, “How to Study” and
“How to take care of your hair”. These

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booklets were given free with each
pack. The sales were making miracles!!
Those who are currently in the age
group of ‘’fifties to seventies’’ might
still remember newspaper
advertisements, that were a paradigm
shift from the traditional advertisement
pattern of Ayurvedic products.
Subsequently a lot of companies
followed after me and that trend still
continues.
Then I started my own coconut oil,
under the brand “PureGold’’. It was
enriched with vitamin E, for the first
time in the world! I was the first to
launch a 50 ml bottle. During those
days, 50 ml size in coconut oil was not
permitted. I gave 20 ml + 30 ml free in
one pack. A lot of other manufacturers
took objection to the 50 ml pack size.
But mine was 20 ml + 30 ml FREE!

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There was no weight control on
anything less than 20 ml. We won the
case!
We also gave Accidental Insurance
policy worth Rs. 50,000 free with each
bottle of ‘’PureGold’’. This increased
the turnover of our brand and took it to
second position in Maharashtra!!
Now a days, I run Facebook sites
“Mumbai Dinank”, I also have a social
media
website www.mumbaidinank.org . All
are popular and have over 20,000 likes
and regular readership of over 2,
00,000!
That is where I stand as on date i.e. in
the year 2017.
Now with this back ground, I hope, it
will be interesting for you, to read about
my real experiences in life after 18th
March 2002.

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Accident & Brain Surgery
Eighteenth March 2002.
Just a day before, i.e. on Seventeenth
March, 2002, Shri Saibaba came in my
dream. In the dream, I was standing in a
queue for taking Shri Saibaba’s
darshan. While standing in the queue I
accidentally fell at his feet. He was
inside a glass cubicle. When I fell, my
body was half inside the glass cubicle
and half outside the cubicle, without

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any cut to my body. He lifted me up
and gave his blessings, “Do not worry
about this fall’’ he said.’’ Everything
will go on smoothly in your life.”
When I woke up in the morning I was
thinking about the dream. Me and my
wife Sandhya visited the Shri Saibaba
temple in Thane to reaffirm his
blessings.
Then this calamity struck.
On that same day, I was on the way to
my office in Vikroli. I wanted to have a
sales meeting, followed by the accounts
managers meeting and then my daily
routine work.
I had just finished a meeting with the
Vice-president of Marico Industries
Ltd. Some brand disputes were in
progress with them and the meeting was
for amicably settling the same.
I was reading a file giving reports on

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salesmen performance during that week
and was comparing it against the
salesmen outside Mumbai area. A
future action plan was taking shape in
my mind on various issues, when
suddenly the driver overtook another
car rather rashly.
“Be careful. Did you drink last night? I
have been watching you since morning,
you are driving the car very fast. What
is wrong with you?” I questioned my
driver.
The driver remained silent.
Then in the next five minutes my car
collided with another car coming from
opposite side. It was my driver’s
mistake. My car was heavily damaged.
The front windshield was totally
shattered. The engine and bonnet were
mangled due to the heavy impact.
I got down from the car. The driver was

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completely free from any injury, he had
not even a scratch!! People rushed to
the spot and they took me to nearby Dr.
Samant’s Hospital. Doctors
immediately took me to the x-ray room.
X-ray was taken. Doctors found a
fracture in my skull. He immediately
asked me to shift to Hinduja hospital.
Meanwhile my staff reached the
hospital as they were telephonically
informed by the doctors about the
accident.
I watched myself in the mirror of the
hospital. There was blood oozing out
from my nose, ears, mouth. The eyes
appeared damaged due to the accident. I
started feeling unconscious. I asked for
some water to drink. My office staff
arranged for water. I sipped some water
and meanwhile I lost consciousness, as
if I was about to die!

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I could fairly understand that I am was
on the way to Hinduja hospital in an
ambulance. My wife Sandhya, son
Ashutosh and daughter Amruta, along
with my neighbour Mr. Mohite, first
rushed from our home in Thane, to
Powai where Dr. Samant’s hospital was
located. There they got to know that I
had been shifted to Hinduja hospital.
They then rushed to Hinduja.
In the ambulance I started to get
recurrent fits. I lost control on urination
and passage of stools. I was shivering
and my entire body was wet and full of
dirt and blood. Two or three people
were trying to control me, on the
stretcher, but in vain.
The ambulance reached Hinduja
hospital. I was in very bad shape. All
clothes were torn, wet and I had blood
flowing out of mouth, ears, nose and

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now from eyes too!
The time was 6.30 in the evening.
Being an accident case doctors were
taking their own time to offer me
medical help. Finally all formalities
were completed.
Sandhya, Ashutosh and Amruta were
helplessly watching the doctors. They
were shocked by my status. Their Baba
who had gone to office cheerfully, was
on the stretcher now. It was a great
shock to them. Sandhya was trying to
tell the doctors to give me urgent
treatment. Amruta was crying besides
me.
Meanwhile many of my neighbours
from Vasant Vihar, Thane, where we
lived, rushed to Hinduja. Sandhya
telephoned our close family friend Dr.
Pradnyesh Chandarana and called him
to Hinduja. My friends, employees also

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rushed to the hospital.
At 1.00 am at night Dr. Milind Sankhye
along with other doctors took me inside
the operation theater.
They explained to my family members
that I was in a critical stage and they
had to move for an urgent surgery. The
surgery was complex and there was a
risk to my life while performing the
surgery.
Despite doctors telling this to my
family members, my wife was very
positive. ‘’Rajeev you are going inside
operation theater. Do not worry.
Doctors will bring you out soon.”
Sandhya said to me. I could hear her
voice coming from a distance. It was
my first conscious state of mind after
almost 6-7 hours!
I acknowledged her and replied back in
mind itself, as the words would not

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come out, “I know you all will wait for
me, till I come out well.”
Then again I lost consciousness.
My father-in-law Keshav Patankar and
my mother in law Mrs. Nisha, my elder
brother Anil and his wife Mrs. Smita
were present at the hospital since
evening. My brother Sudhir and his
wife Nandini also came at midnight.
Other relatives were also present,
except my parents. They were not told
about my accident on that day, looking
at their old age. (However they were
told about this accident once I came
back from the hospital. They came to
meet me at my residence…)
A major operation took place that day.
Doctors told my family that I may lose
one of the senses. It may be vision,
smell or taste. I remained unconscious
for five days. Sandhya used to sit

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outside the ICU, crying and praying to
god to save me. Ashutosh and Amruta
have never told me how they felt during
those days. Ashutosh was studying
engineering and Amruta was in the
eighth standard. How they must have
faced all those days, only god knows!
My brother in law Rajesh Omkar came
down all the way from Singapore.
Rajesh was a gem of a person. He
remained present in the hospital
throughout all emergencies.
After around five days I started
regaining consciousness. I had several
tubes all around my body. In the mouth,
nose, ureters and where not! The
Cardiogram gave the status of my heart.
One of the most important thing was, I
started seeing everything! My eyes had
recovered fully. But I had lost one
important sense, the sense of “smell”.

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Everyone was happy with this result!
Dr. Milind Sankhye came to visit
regularly. He was surprised to see my
rapid progress. “Looks like you want to
go home early. Keep on progressing
rapidly.” Dr. Milind said to me.
During the visiting hours many well-
wishers came to see me. I always used
to ask Ashutosh to offer them tea!
Looking at my positive approach!
Everybody used to say, “Ashutosh has
arranged for the tea. We had it just now
outside!”
Ashutosh had no previous experience of
any relatives undergoing this type of
trauma. Not once did I see him cry and
he became much more mature and
caring during the days after surgery. He
used to sit next to my bed the whole
night and take care of me like a
“father”!

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Sandhya cared for me like her own new
born baby. She was very worried about
my condition but she never disclosed it
to me. She was taking care of me, as if
she was my mother taking care of her
own baby’s health!
She was too young at that time. She
used to come to the hospital and make
me happy, cheerful and stress free.
On the tenth day, after the incident all
of the tubes were removed from my
body. I saw myself for the first time in
the mirror. My head was fully shaved
and there were thirteen platinum pins
visible from outside.
During the surgery doctors had opened
up the entire skull and ‘cleaned’ my
brain, which was damaged on the front-
side, and stitched the skull back. It was
very delicate for the next six months.
Anything going wrong with skull would

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have impacted my health very
adversely!
On the fifteenth day I was taken to a
physiotherapy gymnasium of the
hospital. They trained me on various
fronts such as regaining my balance
while walking, limb movements, etc.,
all to take care of my brain damage.
Other weaknesses were also taken care
of in the gym. Ashutosh used to follow
me in the gym and get things done as
per the doctor’s instructions.
On the seventeenth day, I requested the
doctors to give me a discharge from the
hospital. Dr. Milind Sankhe came. He
saw all the reports, examined me
thoroughly and gave the discharge after
two more days.
It was a miracle! A patient who had
undergone brain surgery, was
discharged on the nineteenth day!! It

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was a medical history!!!
I came home. Slowly I started walking
around in the garden in front of my
home. I started chit chatting with our
neighbours. I started reading
newspapers, both Marathi and English.
I started communicating with my office
telephonically.
On the twenty-fifth day after the
accident, I got up in the morning.
Dressed up, had my breakfast, and
started for office.
Sandhya, Ashutosh and Amruta, were
all against me going so soon to office.
But it was in vain. My mind was made
up!
I got inside my old Maruti 800 and
proceeded to office, driving by myself
and without any one accompanying me!
Medicines recommended were Eptoin
one tablet three times a day!!

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Eight days after discharge, I had been
advised to consult Dr. Milind Sankhye
to show him my progress. I carried a
nice bouquet with me, gave it to him
and said “Thank you very much for
bringing me out of the hands of death.
Thank you!”
He smiled. “It is in the hands of God,
who will survive and who will not. God
wanted you back in this world. He
brought you back. So thank him only. I
am just a cause.’’ Dr. Milind Sankhye
politely replied. But for me Dr. Milind
was like “God”!
Gradually Dr. Sankhye further reduced
the dose of Eptoin tablets. It was to be
discontinued completely after reducing
its dose every month, in five more
months. Wasn’t it a great surprise for
me? No medicines after six months.
Doctors are god. And god is great! So

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doctors are great. I whispered to myself.
There was one more miracle that had
occurred. My eyes were intact and I
could see everything. Both my right and
left eye had some blind spots due to the
accident, but the blind spot in the right
eye was visible through the left eye and
vice versa. I was partially blind but with
both the eyes working together I was in
a position to see everything in the
world!
One day my close friend Dr. Prakash
Vaidya and his wife Mrs. Shubha came
to my residence. They got to know
everything about the accident the earlier
day, as they had been out of town for
the whole duration of my
hospitalization. Their eyes filled with
tears, seeing me bald and with thirteen
platinum pins inside the skull!!
Now a days Dr. Gursahani takes care of

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my progress 15 years of my accident.
One day I remembered the dream of
Shri Saibaba. I remembered that he had
lifted me up and given his blessings,
“Do not worry. Everything will go on
smoothly.” Did the Shri Saibaba dream
prove to be true?

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Epileptic Fits
One year went very smoothly.
Medicines reduced. After six months
my skull healed. I was back to work.
My travel work started. I started
meetings and got back control on sales
staff.

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Marico Industries Ltd. issue was
mutually settled and that too in our
favour. All court cases from both sides
were also withdrawn. Mumbai, Delhi,
Gujarat, Jalgaon
cases were withdrawn. Whether
criminal or civil, “Jitam Maya” was the
slogan from both sides. But insiders
knew who had won and who had lost!!
Meanwhile I went for a holiday with
my family. It was a trip which
everybody greatly enjoyed.
I came back from the trip abroad. Work
load increased. I started working twelve
hours a day.
One day I had a lot of work in my
office. Several appointments went on
till nine o’clock. At nine pm I thought
of visiting the factory in the next
building and then to go home.
I went outside and I had a fit. I do not

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remember, but I was told subsequently,
that I was lying on the ground next to
my car. Nearby unit manager, Mr.
Sachin took me to a hospital in Vikroli.
That doctor refused to admit me into
the hospital, as foam was coming out of
my mouth. Those doctors suspected that
I have taken some poison, and were
afraid there should not be any ‘’case’’
against them!!
Meanwhile my family had reached the
spot. They decided to shift me to Fortis
hospital (back then it was Wockhardt). I
was rushed to the hospital.
Dr. Prakash Vaidya, my close friend
and a team of doctors and nurses were
already waiting for me. It was all
organized by Prakash himself. I was
treated well in the hospital. An MRI
was taken. Many other tests were done.
It was an Epileptic seizure. A new

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disease had come up!!
After one year of this incidence, I
returned home in the evening slightly
early. I was feeling uneasy and that
night, I felt like going to bed early. I
wished everyone good night and went
to sleep.
At midnight I started to snore because
of which my wife woke up.
“Rajeev are you all right?’’ She asked.
But there was no reply from me. Soon
thereafter I got a fit and foam came at
my mouth. All my family members
were afraid of these symptoms. All my
neighbours were called. Dr. Prakash
Vaidya rushed from Mulund, Dr.
Stephen Alfred, who is our neighbour
and in charge of Bethany Hospital, was
also summoned hurriedly.
I was admitted to Bethany (at that time
Lok) hospital. After admission to the

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hospital I came back to normalcy. But I
felt a lot of weakness. I stayed under
medical observation for a day and was
discharged from the hospital. This was
another episode of Epileptic Seizure.
After two days rest I resumed work
once again. Few days went a little dull.
But soon my health came back to
normal and I started enjoying work as
before.
Soon I came to know that my eyes were
becoming ‘’cross’’ in their position.
This means that my eyes stopped
moving parallel. If it happened while
driving, my car would go haywire. My
wife Sandhya came to know this. I tried
to hide this fact from her by keeping the
left eye open and the right eye closed. I
did this so she would not notice it, as
she used to sit beside me to the left,
while driving!

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I reported this to the doctors. They
knew about it, as this was a possible
side effect of the new tablets given to
me after Epileptic episode. They
changed the tablets and this “keeping
left eye open and right closed” episode
stopped.
I once again started working late in the
office doing various business and social
activities.
The third episode of fits happened after
another year. My father-in-law Shri.
Keshav Patankar was in the last stage of
cancer at Nanavati hospital. I went to
see him at ten in the night. I was
receiving calls from my mother-in-law,
Nisha, to come quickly to the hospital.
But I did not want to disclose this to
Sandhya as she would become tense. I
completed my work and then told
Sandhya about the calls received from

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my mother-in-law. She was shocked to
hear about it. ‘’Why did you not tell me
about it before?’’ She questioned me.
But I had no answer!
The drive to Nanavati hospital at Vile
Parle West, from Vasant Vihar, Thane
took me one and half hour. I went
straight to Shri. Patankar’s room. He
was screaming in agony, crying with
pain. Doctors were trying hard to
control him but in vain. He was very
uneasy and therefore shouting loudly.
Doctors requested me to wait outside.
They took him into the Operation
Theater. I could still hear loud sounds
coming out of Operation Theater.
Alone, I waited outside the Operation
Theater. Soon the noise stopped.
Doctors came out and said, “He is
serious. We have given him strong pain
killers. Call your relatives

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immediately.’’
It was 1.o’clock in the night. I took a
decision to call relatives in the morning
only.
I then came back home. The journey
back again it took one hour. I slept
uncomfortably at about 3 o’clock.
At 3.30 am I had a serious Epileptic
attack. By this time my family was
accustomed to epileptic attacks so they
rushed me to the hospital. Doctors
treated me. I was back from hospital
after 3 days.
Then for 15 days I avoided going
upstairs to see Shri. Patankar. I used to
go to hospital every day with Sandhya
but preferred to remain in the car.
After 15 days I went upstairs to meet
Shri. Patankar. He enquired about my
health. A last stage cancer patient
showed his true love and affection

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towards his son-in-law by enquiring
about my health. That was so great!!
In about ten more days we lost Shri.
Patankar. I was the only male relative in
India at that time and performed his last
rituals. We took him to the
“crematorium” to bid him a final Good
Bye!
A noble caring man expired only
because of the negligence of doctors.
He had throat cancer, since six months
he had been visiting doctors with
symptoms such as spitting blood while
coughing, but the doctor tested for
cancer only in the last one month. How
cruel and negligent could a human
being be to another human being on this
earth!
Paralytic Attack

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My LIC consultant and a good friend
Shri Vijay Puri once suggested to me to
take out an LIC policy. “I already have
LIC policies totaling to rupees 25
Lakhs. If at all I die of a disease or an
accident my family will get rupees One
Crore, four times of what I am insured
for!’’ I said laughingly.
‘’But why not have a policy of One
Crore. You are now well settled and
your family requires this money to live

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up to the current standards.’’ Vijay
suggested.
I agreed with Vijay.
The next day morning we went to a LIC
approved hospital. All tests including
medical checkups were done. In the
afternoon I had lunch with Vijay. It was
great company for me. Later in the
afternoon we again went back to
hospital and conducted post lunch tests.
All reports were to be available next
day. We enquired with the doctors.
They said that the results were good
and they wanted just one more day to
compile them, take signatures of head
of the department and then handover
the reports to us with an official copy to
the LIC office.
We parted happily. Shri Vijay Puri
assured me to show the copy of the
reports the next day.

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It was the time when Ashutosh was in
Melbourne, Australia where he was
working with Infosys and Amruta was
about to leave for higher studies at the
London School of Economics, where
she had gained admission on her own
merit for the MS degree.
I slept early that night at 10 pm as I had
woken up early that day for LIC
medical tests.
At 12.30 am I collapsed due to what, at
that time seemed like a fit. Amruta and
Sandhya rushed me to Jupiter hospital
in Thane. Doctors saw my history. They
thought that it as Epileptic fit and
treated me accordingly. After twelve
hours had passed, I was still feeling
weakness on my right side. I could not
lift up the right hand. I could not talk
much. My words were coming very
late. I hardly remembered my language,

36
the mother tongue Marathi!
Doctors then suspected something else
beyond epilepsy. The Jupiter Hospital
MRI scan machine was not working. I
was taken to Fortis hospital at Mulund.
There my friend Dr. Girish Sabnis was
present with his wife Dr. Archana. He
waited inside the MRI control room to
see the MRI scan.
It was paralysis due to a stroke. The
brain was showing blood capillaries
ruptured. The damage had happened on
the left side of the brain, hence the right
side of the body was paralyzed.
It took more than 36 hours to identify
that damage had been caused to the
brain due to a blood clot and it was not
an epileptic attack as in the past. By
then it was too late for any preventive
action, as the anti-paralytic injection is
to be given within four hours to avoid

37
effects of the damage.
In my case, that ‘’time’’ had lapsed!
Amruta was about to leave for London.
Ashutosh rushed to India from
Melbourne. On the fourth day he came
to the hospital, straight from the airport.
After a few days I returned home with
my right side fully paralyzed. I could
not remember words well. My right
hand was also not working at all.
Ashutosh took up my rehabilitation as a
task. He coordinated with
physiotherapists and my exercise
sessions started. I was neither able to
lift my right hand nor my right leg.
Ashutosh encouraged me to slowly
make progress.
The day came when Amruta was to
leave for London. I went to the airport
to say bye to my daughter. Her
emotions were a mix of her care for me

38
and going far away from family, whom
she loved so dearly!
Sandhya was also crying. She was
worried about Amruta, going alone few
thousand kilometers away at the young
age of 19 years!
We all came back from the airport.
Ashutosh continued his efforts and
worked hard to bring me back to
normal. Almost three months passed. I
started standing on my own. Speech
had shown some improvement. Lips
were still crossed. I started using my
left hand for having food. I learnt to
write with the left hand (and that
practice has continued!) and use
computer laptop with same left hand
(and that practice has continued too
since then!).
It was a time for Ashutosh to return to
his work at Infosys, Pune. On my

39
assurance of taking good care of
myself, he resumed work.
I have no words to thank him for the
care and love he has showered on me
during that period.
Amruta reached London. Her college
started. She used to chat with me on
Skype every evening. She encouraged
me to properly pronounce
grammatically correct Marathi. I used
to talk with her for an hour. She asked
me to raise my right hand and I
followed her instructions! I now realize
how she helped me in coming out of the
paralysis by talking with me every day.
I feel now a days that all the family
members took care of me, by spending
their valuable time of job for Ashutosh,
of study for Amruta and of house work
of Sandhya!
I used to go to Dr. Rahul Singh’s Gym

40
cum physiotherapy center every
evening. It was located at Hiranandani
Estate, Thane. He used to encourage me
daily by making me do more exercises,
bringing me and my body out of
paralytic effects. I spent more than one
and half hour time every evening, at the
physiotherapy center. That helped me a
lot to come out of the ill effects of
paralysis.
The physiotherapy continued for almost
fourteen months and that allowed me to
return back to work with self-
confidence. Except the right hand,
everything else became normal. My
face almost came to normal. The right
leg also co-operated. I started walking
normally..!
It was due to the great efforts of my
family to bring me back.
I again started driving my own car,

41
right up to Goa. I treated myself as fit
as a normal man!!
Subsequently, I even travelled on
business trips abroad to Singapore and
Dubai.
I got back to normal, almost 80% in
spite of the paralytic attack!
Cancer

42
In the year 2011, close to the yearend, I
started finding blood in my stools. I
went to Dr. Stephen Alfred at Bethany
hospital. On examining he gave me
medicines for piles. Even after about
three weeks, blood still kept oozing into
the stools. Doctor suggested going for a
biopsy of the intestine.
Without disclosing to my family
members what test he was going to
perform, I went to the hospital. A

43
biopsy was done. Doctors sent the
sample for further examination. After
biopsy, the ulcers in the intestine started
bleeding. Doctors asked me to get
admitted into Bethany hospital as a day
patient and kept me under observation.
In the evening I felt I should not disturb
my whole family by staying in the
hospital. I lied to the doctors that the
bleeding had stopped. They believed
me and gave me a discharge.
I came home and briefly described to
Sandhya how the doctors had
conducted the test.
‘’Are you alright now?’’ She asked me.
I lied to her with a ‘’yes’’.
At 11 o’clock in the night I started
bleeding profusely. I was going inside
the washroom to pass stools. But
instead of stools, blood came out. I
went to the washroom 5 to 6 times and

44
almost half a liter of blood along with
little fecal matter came out every time. I
got semi-conscious. Sandhya, Ashutosh
and Amruta all three rushed me to
Bethany hospital. I was admitted to the
ICU of the hospital. Even after getting
admitted in the hospital, I kept losing a
lot of blood.
My hemoglobin count dropped down
from 13.9 to 5.9. I was given 2 bags of
blood till morning and then was shifted
to Kokilaben hospital at Andheri. In the
ambulance again blood was given and it
continued to be administered in the
hospital as well. Approximately six to
seven bags of blood were given to me.
Doctors explained to my family that
they would scan the intestine by some
scientific methods. Then they would be
able to determine the reason for the
bleeding. Then the further course of

45
action could be decided.
My family gave their consent to this
procedure.
I was taken inside the operation theater
and a sonography type of scanning was
performed.
Doctors found some of the blood
vessels in the intestine were ruptured
which was leading to the blood
hemorrhage.
They consulted my family and an
embolization surgery was performed.
Doctors closed those open blood
vessels and the bleeding stopped.
I was kept for one day under
observation. The bleeding had stopped.
They gave me a discharge on the next
day. A day’s treatment had cost us over
a lakh of rupees!
Only seven days remained for
performing the engagement ceremony

46
of my daughter Amruta with Rahul.
It was about to postponed. But I
suggested to wait for 2-3 days and then
deciding positively!
I make sure to take compulsory rest at
home. My blood haemoglobin count
was still 6.2. I was not bleeding
anymore and the rest at home improved
my health a little bit.
Finally it was decided to go ahead with
the engagement ceremony on schedule.
I was given strict instructions to sit at
one place and only give blessings to the
‘’would be’’ couple.
The function was organized by Amruta
and Rahul on our society lawns. The
entire function was arranged by the two
of them. Everyone enjoyed the
function. I was forced to dance and so
danced a little.
It was a Saturday and the next day was

47
a Sunday.
Dr. Stephen Alfred called me on
Monday. He insisted that I must be
accompanied by my son, Ashutosh.
I went to the Bethany hospital. Both,
Ashutosh and I entered his cabin and
found him to be a bit serious.
“Mr. Rajeev I have bad news. The
report for your test has come. You have
been detected with rectal cancer.’’ Dr.
Alfred said very compassionately.
‘’Oh that is all! What is to be done
next?’’ I asked peacefully.
Dr. Alfred was surprised. Previously, he
must have seen many patients crying or
getting very disturbed on hearing the
word ‘’Cancer’’!
“The cancer surgery can be done in
Bethany hospital also. I will discuss it
with my associate doctors and inform
you what can be done. We have a very

48
good team of doctors here who have
performed several such surgeries,
including the operation of Mr. Sharad
Pawar.’’ Dr. Alfred said. Dr. Alfred
was the dean of Bethany hospital and
my next door neighbour too! He said it
was difficult for him to break the news
to me,
but I was thankful to him for early
detection and for all his support
throughout.
I telephoned my family friend Dr.
Prakash Vaidya and told him about the
rectal cancer diagnosis.
He called me to his clinic. Meanwhile
Dr. Prakash had a word with his friend
and dean of Tata Cancer hospital Dr.
Rajan Badwe and took his appointment
next day morning at 10 o’clock.
Three of us, myself, Ashutosh and Dr.
Prakash, went together to see Dr.

49
Rajendra Badwe.
Dr. Rajendra Badwe, Dean of Tata
Cancer hospital, called Dr. Mahesh
Goel, who was in charge of intestinal
surgery, to his cabin.
‘’My personal friend Mr. Rajeev Thatte
has come to me with a report of rectal
cancer. Please offer him all the support
that you can.’’ Dr. Rajendra told Dr.
Mahesh Goel.
‘’Come to my cabin afterwards. It is on
the third floor. Let me examine you and
we will decide further.’’ Dr. Mahesh
said.
‘’You take them along with you.’’ Dr.
Rajendra said.
Dr. Prakash Vaidya along with myself
and Ashutosh, went with Dr. Mahesh to
his cabin. He saw all the papers,
medicines, reports on surgery carried
out at Kokilaben hospital, my previous

50
operations carried out, paralysis I have
faced etc. He wanted to carry out
further investigation, all of which he
arranged for on the same day. Some
tests were to be carried out on an empty
stomach and for all those tests he asked
me to visit the next day.
How a friend like Dr. Prakash Vaidya
could have made all this possible in
such a short time and with the best
possible options? It was more than what
a real brother would do! His help was
of paramount importance. Tears came
to my eyes, but I avoided showing this
to him.
“Thanks Prakash. You have helped me
a lot.’’ I told him.
“It is my duty to help a friend like you
to come out of cancer. I have used my
contacts for a good cause.’’ Dr. Prakash
said.

51
All the required tests were done. 29th
December was set as the day for my
surgery by Dr. Mahesh Goel.
I was admitted to the hospital a day
prior to the surgery date. Pre-
operational procedures were done.
Doctors explained to me how the
surgery was going to be performed.
“There is a chance that after the surgery
you will not be able to use your rectum
to pass stools’’, doctors explained.
‘’Then how will I pass stools?’’ I
questioned eagerly.
‘’We will make an opening in the
intestine and attach a ‘stoma’ bag to it.
You will pass stools automatically into
this bag. You have to empty out this
bag as soon as it is full. Your urine will
be passed normally.’’ Doctors
explained me.
‘’We will try to remove the bag and

52
join your rectum with intestine after a
period of 4 to 5 months. We may not
join rectal portion with intestine, if it is
too short, in this case you may have to
go through life with such bag and pass
your stools through the plastic bag only.
But let us not imagine that before
surgery.’’ Doctors told me patiently.
Dr. Alfred had also told me these same
details and that speaks for his expertise
and experience.
I was worried by the picture of carrying
a bag with stools attached from outside
my stomach. But I hoped that it would
last only for five months and afterwards
surgeons would do the needful for
joining the rectum and intestine
successfully!
The day of the surgery arrived. A
barber shaved my whole body
thoroughly. Doctors examined me. I

53
was put on a stretcher and moved to the
operation theater. Sandhya, Ashutosh
and Amruta gave me their whole-
hearted best wishes.
I said ‘’See you again’’ to all outside
and the stretcher trolley was wheeled
into the operation theater. Dr. Mahesh
and 10-12 other doctors and nurses
were cheerfully waiting for me. It was a
routine matter for them.
“How are you Rajeev?’’ Dr. Mahesh
asked me. I just smiled at him,
cheerfully.
“This is the anesthetist. He will give
you a small injection of anesthesia.’’
A tall doctor came near me and the
administered anesthesia. I went into a
deep sleep the next minute.
The next day morning I woke up in the
ICU to somebody saying ‘’Good
morning’’ to me. It was Dr. Prakash

54
Vaidya and Dr. Girish Sabnis along
with all my family members. I was glad
that I was back in the world! A world
where I have my excellent family and
friends!
“How are you?’’ Dr. Prakash asked me.
“He is looking cheerful’’ Dr. Girish
responded. I looked at my family. They
had smiling faces. I gave them a small
smile. It was reciprocation of what
great task they undergone for me!
In the afternoon the hospital staff
shifted me to a room. I was attached
with several tubes and an empty bag
was attached to the stomach with a
small cut an inch wide, for automatic
passing of the stools. A catheter too was
attached and a bag attached for
collection of any internal blood due to
surgery, etc.
I had severe pain. I asked for

55
analgesics. ‘’Give me two tablets of
Paracitamol.” I requested the doctors.
The sister dispensed me the medicine.
On the second day, Dr. Mahesh came
along with five-six doctors.
‘’You have to start walking from today.
Go to the gallery and watch the scenery
outside,’’ the doctor said with a smile
on his face.
I wondered. How can these doctors be
so cheerful and happy that too after
listening to the problems of so many
patients and even handling deaths
sometimes!!

56
Tuberculosis
A week after getting discharged from
Tata Cancer hospital I visited Dr.
Mahesh Goel to show the progress. He
went through my file.
You have been diagnosed with

57
Tuberculosis. The body part removed in
the surgery was sent to the laboratory.
The lab report says so and all
confirmations have been obtained for
the same.’’ Dr. Mahesh said, carefully
reading the report.
“But doctor it could not have been
detected if I had not been not operated
for rectal cancer isn’t it?’’ I questioned
him.
‘’That is true. Many people do not show
any symptoms outside and they can live
up to the age of 100 years also. In your
case the stomach was opened and
pathologists identified symptoms for
Tuberculosis. You must now be treated
for tuberculosis along with the cancer’’
Dr. Mahesh said.
‘’Can I be treated for Tuberculosis in
Thane itself instead of coming to
Tata?’’ I asked him.

58
“You can check with your doctor friend
in Mulund and take the treatment in
Thane itself. It is not a major disease
but you have to take treatment for 12 to
14 months.’’ Dr. Mahesh said.
I telephoned Dr. Prakash Vaidya and
told him what Dr. Mahesh had said.
“I have a friend Dr. Narawane, who
comes to Jupiter hospital regularly. I
will talk to him and he will treat you.’’
Dr. Prakash said.
I went to see Dr. Narawane after Dr.
Prakash had had a word with him. He
called me immediately and prescribed
medicines for two months. He also
assured me about reducing the dosage
over a period of time.
I was treated for a fourth major illness
‘’ tuberculosis’’!
I was doing regular exercise and yoga
for five months to take care of my rectal

59
cancer and tuberculosis. I used to spend
more than an hour inside a bed room
alone as the exercise was carried out
with a bag attached externally to my
stomach from where all fecal matter
used to come out. Ashutosh and
Sandhya, both helped me a lot in
changing this bag every fourth day. It
involved a lot of skill and they made
this skill perfect by practice!
Finally the five months were over. Dr.
Mahesh examined me thoroughly. I was
tested by the nurse by passing a lot of
water through the intestinal opening
that doctors had made during surgery.
Water passed through the anal opening
successfully without any hurdle. They
checked this for an hour or so. Then I
was declared ‘’fit’’ for closure of the
intestinal opening and passing all stools
again through the anal opening.

60
The second surgery was also successful.
Doctors closed the intestinal opening
and stitched it successfully to my
rectum.
I was in the hospital for 6 days and
retuned back passing the first “stools’’
in the hospital itself. The operation was
successful!!
For eight more months I took tablets for
tuberculosis. And then Dr. Narawane
stopped the treatment declaring me,
“free from tuberculosis’’!!

61
Kidney Donation & Transplantation
Meanwhile my wife Sandhya had a
kidney stones problem. Doctors
detected stones inside both her kidneys

62
on the lower side of the kidney lobes.
They tried their best to remove the
stones without invasive action but were
unsuccessful. Then Dr. Bapat removed
them by performing a surgery. The year
was 1998.
The stones were removed by Dr. Bapat
but this damaged her kidneys
permanently. Slowly her Creatinine
levels went up. For many years
Sandhya could not give proper attention
to herself due to my illnesses and
surgeries.
She had swelling on her feet and legs.
Dr. Rajendra Gunjotikar used to treat
her for years together. Ultimately one
day her creatinine levels jumped to over
six! Sandhya was at home. Amruta
accompanied me to the doctor. Dr.
Gunjotikar informed us that Sandhya
would require kidney transplantation. It

63
was shocking for both of us. Amruta
started crying in front of Dr.
Gunjotikar. Dr. Gunjotikar offered her a
glass of water and took her near him,
like she was his own daughter.
We both came out. Amruta again
started crying, keeping her head on my
shoulders. I pacified her but I myself
was worried about the operation.
We came home. We did not disclose to
Sandhya what Dr. Gunjotikar had said.
We discussed with her about the new
medicines given by the doctor but she
was restless.
I started regular exercise in view of the
operation that was proposed. I wanted
to give my kidney in a ‘’’perfect’’
condition. I started drinking 2 to 3 liters
of water every day. My only objective
was to suit my kidney for Sandhya!
I started searching on the internet for

64
information about kidney
transplantation. I found ten to fifteen
files giving the A to Z of
transplantation. In parallel I checked
with my good friend Dr. Chandarana
about exploring any alternate options.
He suggested speaking to Dr. Mukesh
Shete and also personally had a word
with him about Sandhya’s case.
I checked with Dr. Mukesh Shete about
what tests he required for the donor. He
gave me a list of tests to be performed
by the donors. I was aware from the
web that O Rh+ve blood group could
match with O Rh–ve. The tests were
done without Sandhya’s knowledge.
Lastly my history of cancer came in the
way of my being a donor. I was advised
by Dr. Shete to check myself to be a
safe and matching donor who was free
from cancer cells in the body.

65
I had to go to Lower Parel for the test.
Doctors gave me laxatives and a whole
day was spent in performing scans. It
was a full body scan.
The doctors checked repetitively near
my skull. They were not aware that I
had platinum pins inside the skull put
there during the skull fracture by Dr.
Milind Sankhe!
I explained them the cause of getting
these wrong signals in the scanning
machine. They checked it once again
and after being convinced they ended
the test.
Next morning, the final full body scan
report was ready. Amruta was curious
to know the results. She accompanied
me to hospital.
The full body scan was normal. No
cancer cells had been found in the
body!!

66
I had prepared a separate file for all my
reports. I thought of going to Dr.
Mukesh Shete with all the reports.
Amruta came in the way!
‘’Why are you giving your kidney to
Aai when you have had several
illnesses in the past. Let me give my
kidney, it will match Aai’s kidney in a
better way. After all I am her
daughter!’’ Amruta, my daughter 25
years old, argued.
Both of us went to Dr. Mukesh Shete.
She explained to him how her kidney
would be better than my kidney. Dr.
Mukesh smiled. He appreciated her
willingness.
“Give your kidney to someone when
you are 57 or 60 years old. Let your
Baba give his Kidney to his wife. And
that too when it matches!” Dr. Mukesh
Shete said.

67
Amruta was convinced.
My kidney ‘’passed’’ the final Amruta
test!!
Ashutosh was in United Kingdom for
his work during this time and we only
passed on necessary information to him
making sure no adverse news reaches
him.
Some tests were conducted for Sandhya
as well. The data was stored in a file.
Then there came a ‘’ State level
government committees’’ approval day.
Mr. Kulkarni, a committed social
worker from the hospital, gave us the
necessary instructions. Necessary
affidavits were done and doctor’s
certificates were obtained. Meanwhile,
Ashutosh had spoken to his company
and traveled back.
We were the first ‘’opening’’ batsmen
before the committee. The four of us,

68
Sandhya, Amruta, Ashutosh and me
entered the meeting room. Video
shooting of our meeting was being
recorded. They asked us to take a seat.
All the people asking questions were
genuine graceful doctors and seemed
like thorough gentlemen. They asked
certain questions. It was clear from the
kidney donor’s relationship with the
recipient that donation was with full
mutual consent. Photograph of all four
of us were taken. Permission for
Kidney transplantation was granted. We
came out relieved.
One essential legal formality was over!
Now the operation date was to be fixed.
Meanwhile Sandhya’s Creatinine in
blood increased to 12.6. Earlier they
tried to create a fistula for dialysis, but
no vein was detected in her hand, that
was suitable for fistula.

69
Now with the increased creatinine in
her blood, a fistula was essential.
Doctors decided the fistula to be tried at
the neck. It was unfortunate that all my
struggle to avoid a fistula failed.
She was operated and a fistula was
made on her neck. Three tubes were
inserted inside. The first Dialysis was
carried out. Toxic water in her body
was removed in the process. After four
sessions of dialysis, her creatinine came
down to 4.5, a level at which she had
been for over six years.
Sandhya was weakening day by day.
When the creatinine came down Dr.
Mukesh Shete went ahead with the
surgery.
Dr. Oza, Dr. Sadanand Thatte and Dr.
Ajay Kanbur as were the main
surgeons.
Dr. Sadanand Thatte, our name sake,

70
gave us comfort that somebody from
the “Thatte” family was taking care of
both “Thatte’s”, the recipient and the
donor!
A date was finalized, 6th March, 2014.
Both Sandhya and I were admitted to
Jupiter hospital a day before surgery.
Sandhya underwent her last dialysis
before the surgery.
Next morning, friends and relatives
gathered to give us their best wishes.
My good friend Hemant Sane, his son,
my ‘’would be’’ son-in-law Rahul and
his father and Mincy my new daughter–
in-law were all present at the time of
surgery.
We both were taken into a waiting
room. I was taken inside the Operation
Theater first. I said “Good Morning” to
all doctors. Dr. Sadanand Thatte
introduce himself to me. “We are in

71
safe hands!’’ I reconfirmed to myself as
they went ahead with the anaesthesia,
which was a routine thing for me by
now!
It took two hours for me and three
hours for Sandhya to undergo the
Kidney Transplantation procedure. We
were inside the Operation Theater for
almost four hours.
After surgery, I was transferred to a
normal ICU, while Sandhya was in the
special ICU made for patients
undergoing Kidney or Liver transplants.
In Sandhya’s room nobody except
doctors, could enter. Special nurses
were kept on duty 24×7 in three shifts.
Now Sandhya had three kidneys and I
had only one!
Doctors subsequently told us that my
kidney immediately started working as
soon as it was surgically fitted in place.

72
Most wives complain about ‘useless’
husbands, but at least I had been of
some use to her by donating my kidney.
And this fact Sandhya cannot deny!!
I was given an early discharge within
seven days due to my progress.
Sandhya also responded well and came
out of the hospital on the fifteenth day.
Five days before a normal transplant
patient!!
For the next six months, Sandhya was
not allowed to meet any visitors.
Family members were forced by
Ashutosh to wear masks and maintain
very strict cleanliness.
Sandhya used to come out of her room
without a mask, and then run back to
her room to tie it up, if Ashutosh was
around!
Bathrooms were cleaned every day. All
maid servants were forced to wear

73
masks when they entered Sandhya’s
bed room. We continued this for six
months and then relaxed.
Sandhya had two more surgeries this
year. One, a Cataract operation and
another, a hand bone fracture surgery.
But both were so less troublesome that
we enjoyed them!!
What I feel about my life?
I feel that I am the happiest person on
the earth! No grievances. No
complaints to god about giving me so
many diseases.
On the contrary I am obliged to him for
positive approach he has given me
towards my life!
I am involved in social work. I am also
running a Marathi periodical ‘Mumbai
Dinank’. I am having a website, as
already mentioned,

74
as www.mumbaidinank.org.
I have learned from my life that
ailments may come and go, how you
take it, is more important.
Sometimes, patients suffering with one
of the five major surgeries I have
undergone, are bit panicky.
From the childhood I treat ‘’today’’ is
as a most enjoyable day! Yesterday is
to be forgotten and tomorrow is yet to
come!!
In the past, there are thousands of
excellent memorable events. Your birth,
your childhood, your dealings with
friends and relatives, rising carriers,
your relatives and their memories. A
vast list that is beyond imagination!
You can see many TV channels like
Animal Planet, Discovery and so on!
They make us forget our todays
problems, let it be financial, medical,

75
married life, children, poverty, bad
politics, office problems, government
problems, taxation problems and ‘’n’’
number of things in the world!
In today’s competitive world problems
are everywhere and everybody and of
all types, but some persons are always
in a pleasant mood. They do not want
anything extra in life. What is the secret
of their lives?
I believe in one shloka in Sanskrit.
यावत जीवेत, सुखम जीवेत; दानम् कृ त्वा, अमरम् भवेत.
भस्मीभूतस्य देहस्य, पुनरागमनम कु तः?
It says that, ‘’Till you live, live happily.
For leaving happily, donate generously.
Then only people will remember you,
for ever…!! You will become
Immortal, Eternal and Forever-
lasting...!!

76
When you will die, you are just
becoming ash and remember well, you
are not going to come back again!!
At least not be on this earth but may be
some other planet... Mars, Jupitar etc. in
our Solar system or some other Solar
systems…!!’’
This ‘’sloka’’ tells us many things, the
great Indian culture has given us. One
needs to think only positively, about
himself, his family, friend and the
whole world…!!
The diseases I have conquered and still living
happily...!!

77
#
- Rajeev S.
Thatte

Uncommon story of a common man..!!

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