Heartbeat Away
This story is about a doctor (Dr. Shevale) who went out of his way to save a life.
After many days of battling a painful toothache, Akshay Mama finally decided to visit the dentist. He was tall, with thick curly hair, a heavy build, and just 20 years old, preparing for his bank entrance exams. Though nervous about the treatment, he thought of taking his mother, Jyoti Ajji, along for support. The clinic was located in the city centre near Renu Ajji’s house, quite far from where Akshay Mama lived, on the outskirts of the city.
He had tried his best to postpone the visit out of fear, but finally, he gathered courage, took a deep breath, and entered the clinic. After being seated in the chair, the procedure began. It started with anaesthesia, but as soon as the dentist made the first cut, Akshay Mama began to feel uneasy. His breathing became heavy, and he started gasping for air. The dentist noticed his heartbeat had become irregular and rapidly increased. She immediately stopped the treatment and advised that he consult a cardiologist right away.
Worried, Jyoti Ajji called my grandmother, Renu Ajji, and told her everything that had happened. Hearing the concern in her voice, Renu Ajji calmly assured her that her son, Ritu Mama, was at home and could drive them to a cardiologist.
Ritu Mama, shorter than Akshay Mama but muscular and fit, arrived at the clinic with Renu Ajji a few minutes later. Tension hung in the air as they helped Akshay Mama into the car and drove straight to Dr. Shevale, a well known cardiologist who had earlier treated Renu Ajji and another family member.
The clinic was on the first floor of a building and not equipped with complex machinery, just a consultation space for post-operative and routine visits.
Jyoti Ajji, visibly shaken, entered the cabin with trembling steps. Dr. Shevale listened patiently to what had happened and was surprised to see such a young patient with heart-related symptoms. After a basic check-up, he ordered an ECG immediately. The results came back abnormal. He advised immediate hospital admission.
As they climbed down the stairs, Jyoti Ajji walked ahead, followed by Akshay Mama and Ritu Mama. Suddenly, Akshay Mama lost his balance, stumbled, and collapsed. He fainted on the spot. Thankfully, Ritu Mama was just behind him and managed to catch him in time, his head narrowly missed hitting the steps. It was a major heart attack.
Jyoti Ajji screamed in panic. Her cries echoed through the stairwell, catching the attention of Dr. Shevale, who rushed out of his OPD. Realizing the urgency, he told Ritu Mama to carry Akshay Mama to the car immediately. While Jyoti Ajji and Renu Ajji stood frozen in shock, unable to react, a nurse joined in to help. She began giving chest compressions to Akshay Mama in the car.
With Dr. Shevale in the front seat guiding the way, Ritu Mama drove at top speed, sometimes even in the wrong direction, to reach the nearest hospital with an operation theatre. Neither our family nor the doctor knew the hospital well, but it was the best hope at that moment.
Upon arrival, Ritu Mama rushed inside to get a stretcher. He and an attendant carefully shifted Akshay Mama inside. Dr. Shevale began preparing for an angioplasty, convinced it was a heart blockage. Since time was critical, he asked Ritu Mama to sign as a guardian so the operation could begin immediately.
Meanwhile, Jyoti Ajji and Renu Ajji arrived at the hospital, still unaware of the sudden turn things had taken. Ritu Mama explained that Akshay Mama had been taken in for an angiography, followed by angioplasty. Jyoti Ajji broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the fear of losing her son at such a young age.
Time felt frozen as everyone waited. After what felt like hours, Dr. Shevale finally came out. Everyone looked at him anxiously.
With a deep breath, he said, “The operation is a success.” A wave of relief spread across the room. But he added, “The next few hours are critical. It depends on how his body reacts. He may slip into a coma… or some organs may be affected. Or… he might just recover—though that would be nothing short of a miracle.”
Those hours were filled with prayers and hope. But finally, Akshay Mama gained consciousness. The doctor checked his vitals and organ function. Everything was working fine. Jyoti Ajji, who had been inconsolable, finally relaxed a little. She and the entire family profusely thanked Dr. Shevale.
“It was a miracle,” the doctor said. “Had I not been in my OPD at that very moment, things could have been very different.”
That day will forever stay in our memories, a day when a doctor went far beyond the call of duty to save my mama’s life.
