A Physiotherapist has the brain of a scientist, the heart of a humanist and the hands of an artist.

Today I’m going to share my first patient’s case story. Yes, I’m a Physiotherapist. Before becoming a Physical therapist I was very unstable.

I was working as a ‘tenderfoot’ (Trainee) in a multi-specialty well-known hospital of the city. I was studying in college 3rd year of my medical.

Sheela Devi, age 64, Bed No.17, Neuro Ward. I still remember the details of her being my first very own patient. I was really very thrilled to visit my first patient in Neuro Ward who was given to me to treat single handedly without my seniors adhering 👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏼👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏼with me.

It was some 2:30 afternoon of a winter. I launched myself into the ward wearing a white shiny coat🥼, carrying a confident (actually nervous) smile😊. My heart beat❤❤ was pounding, my gait was measured and my confidence was over flowing. 

I saw a crowd surrounding a bed with vigorous quarrelsome noise🔊 of a lady. I was little aghast to hear a patient yelling and shouting at the people who seemed to their relatives or at least well wishers taking care of her. I got to know from a staff nurse of the ward that this is Bed No.17 Sheela Devi whom I'm gonna treat.

A lady with wheatish- face, pink colored flower🌺🌻🌹 printed cotton saree, unkempt hair, creased skin….. this is what I saw from the little space from the behind half lying on the bed with an unpredictable face. So, this was my patient.

With a silver tongued voice I said, ‘Hello I’m Dr. Shivani, I'm here to see Sheela Devi.' Everybody around that bed turned back and saw a teeny weeny girl (me 😃) standing at a safe distance. I gave a warm smile to everybody. One of the man from the herd replied me with a worried voice- “Namaste Doctor Saab she is my mother Sheela Devi. She fell down in the bathroom today morning and found paralyzed when taken out after some time.”

I thoroughly cultured the patient's case file📖 and history, jotted all necessary points in my notebook (as I was myself a fresher). The patient was having Acute Stroke (Paralysis).

I was observing a distress on the face of the relatives around, while slowly fabricating my way towards the patient's bed. Now I was close to the bed, then suddenly a young man, who was the son of Sheela Devi shouted at me to stay back. I was shocked to the alarming voice of him and became immobile for a second. I holded myself, took a breath, and again moved towards her ignoring everything. I can see her left side of body was not moving at all, her face was also drooped from left side affecting her eyes (remained opened without a blink). She has became pale and looked very weak to me. She was furiously looking at me as soon as I bent towards her to assess.

I was aback when she all of a sudden…………………to be contd…….

Stay tuned to know the most exciting part of Sheela Devi. Please like and follow me to know further.

Please comment if you find it interesting or relatable……….