MIRACLE OF THE HUMAN BODY.. every little part matters!!

As most of you know.. I fell down in Dubai and fractured the ring finger of my right hand on the 3^rd of August! Luckily God was kind (as always) and I was with close friends who took me to the hospital.. were incredibly thoughtful and took the greatest care of me through it all.. Thank you so very much Suhas and Medha!

The ring finger of the right hand.. doesn’t seem like a big deal right? Wrong? Super wrong! The struggles and challenges of the last 24 days have convinced me that the human body is truly a miracle in motion in which every part does it’s duty and is truly indispensable!

When I used to teach in pre-school.. there was a song about all the fingers and it went like this.. “Thumbkin he can dance.. Thumbkin he can sing.. Thumbkin he can dance.. and Thumbkin he can sing.. We all go merrily up together.. We all come merrily down together.. We all clap hands.. we all clap hands!” and so on for “Pointer” (index) “Tall Man” (middle) and “baby” (little) and this was sung with accompanying smiles and happy actions.. Surprisingly in the song when it came to “Ring Man” (ring) it went “Ring Man he can’t dance and Ring Man he can’t sing.. Ring Man he can’t dance and Ring Man he can’t sing.. We don’t go merrily up together.. we don’t come merrily down together.. We don’t clap hands.. we don’t clap hands”! This particular verse is sung with sad faces and I have experienced firsthand why..

When my middle finger and ring finger were taped together (buddy taping in medical parlance”.. it meant needing to keep the buddy taping dry.. typing a plastic bag over my hand while bathing.. needing my helper to scrub my back and wash my arms and left hand.. It meant feeling awkward and clumsy while performing even the simplest of tasks.. It meant having to focus with full concentration and attention while signing a cheque..

Most of us agree that food is comfort but with a fractured ring finger that didn’t hold true.. It meant not being able to enjoy the simple joy of breaking a roti and scooping up sabzi with it.. it meant not being able to savour the inexplicable joy of eating “dal-chaawal” with your hands.. Indian food is not meant to be eaten with forks knives and spoons! If it’s finger licking good.. it’s GOT to be eaten with the fingers!

I realized that it’s important to try and be ambidextrous with simple things like texting on your cellphone.. eating with a spoon.. taking a tablet.. pouring a glass of water.. Most of us allow our dominant hand to dominate completely (and I am guilty of this too) and when we get into a situation like this.. everything becomes very difficult! I had to made a genuine effort to be patient and not berate myself for being clumsy and slow while doing things!

Although the prescribed 4 weeks of the “buddy taping” weren’t up yet (three days short) I got an x-ray done today and FINALLY the doctor agreed to remove it since the healing is complete! Mere words are woefully inadequate to express the jot I felt when I saw my fingers again.. and looking perfectly normal this evening! I FELT “whole and complete” once again which was such a lovely feeling!

Taking a shower without help.. getting dressed completely on my own.. being able to take my clothes out of the cupboard by myself.. tying and untying my shoelaces.. writing a birthday card to a friend.. and finally.. being able to type this blog WITHOUT pain or discomfort are just a few of the blessings I have experienced today! Heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Mohit Kukreja for his care treatment and kindness.. to my helper Savita who has been a rock solid help and support the past many days.. to my friend Lavina who took me to Swati Snacks to celebrate getting my fingers back.. and to everyone who expressed care and concern for my wellbeing!

I was super lucky not to fall on my head spine or knee and got off relatively lightly with just a fractured finger.. What has been interesting is how much this experience has taught me to be kinder more patient with others as well as myself.. since a number of activities were restricted it gave me a great deal of time to do some serious soul searching.. and in the bargain.. I got some insights about myself that I could have possibly missed had I been on the usual merry-go-round that is called my life!

Deepest gratitude to my parents for building a strong constitution that ensured a speedy recovery and for the comfort of being to avail of the best medical care available! A solemn promise to myself to slow down.. look where I walk.. be careful.. and lots of excitement since I’m going to my “HAPPY PLACE”.. THE Willingdon Club swimming pool tomorrow! Am never going to take my body for granted again.. and neither should you!

Thank you as always for reading and do add your name at the end of your comment (should you choose to write one)!!