From Roshen to Vidya

This is the story of a life saved that turned out to be a life well lived. Roshen was born, sixty years ago today, with a serious heart defect and was not expected  to survive. Without the intervention of my wife Nirmala and me, two young doctors at the time, she would definitely not have survived. It was perhaps the best thing we have done in our lives. Now, as Vidya celebrates her sixtieth birthday, it is time to tell the tale of Vidya's amazing metamorphosis, from a sickly blue kid to a healthy woman still in the pink.

First let's travel back in time, sixty years ago, to the time of Roshen's birth. Vimala, Roshen's mother, was pregnant for the third time and quite worried, since the child of her first pregnancy didn't survive for long. She wanted to give birth at home. The midwife, however, didn't arrive in time. My wife, a medical student at the time, delivered the baby.  Vimala, delighted with the results, chose Nirmala as the one to name the newborn infant. She chose the name Roshen; why I am not sure.

Everything was not pink and rosy, however, for when Roshen cried her lips turned blue, an indication of a serious birth defect.

Blue lips is a sign that blood is not being oxygenated properly; this condition is called cyanosis. There are two birth defects that often cause this condition, Tetrology of Fallot and Transposition of the Great Vessels. In America, and now in India as well, surgery is performed soon after birth.

Not so in Roshen's case. A study, in which an iodine-rich dye is injected in order to document the flow of blood in the heart, was done. Roshen, however, reacted to the iodine and nearly died. The test was stopped and remained incomplete.

The partial study indicated to several doctors that Roshen had Transposition, a much more serious condition. 

The study was reviewed by the famous cardiologist, Dr. Bakey, who concurred. If surgery is not performed in time, the condition becomes inoperable and the patient is doomed. No wonder that Vimala was worried! Her baby would never marry, never become a mother, and was well on her way to an early death. Ir didn't turn our that way, however.

Let us now fast forward to 1976: Nirmala and I, recently married, came to India for the first time as a couple. Vimala greeted us with a Hindu ceremony I will never forget. I was welcomed into the family and was quite pleased.

At that time, the Arjun family lived in the R.B.I. Colony, that is, the Reserve Bank of India Colony, where Vimala's husband, Krishnarjun worked.

One day, Roshen, a thin kid of about 11, wanted to show off her bike riding skills to us. After riding around the R.B.I. track several times, she paused to catch her breath. She was gasping for air. Her face had turned blue as an overcast  sky in Provence. Vimala was at the door begging her to stop. That image stayed fixed in my mind.

When we returned to New York, we wanted to do something to help  Roshen, but what?

Serendipity, that Hindu goddess, intervened. Nirmala was working as a pediatrician at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn at the time. Over lunch one day, Nirmala explained her concerns regarding her niece to a colleague. Her friend informe her of a newly arrived cardiac surgeon by the name of Dr. Griepp. 

Dr. Griepp reviewed the partial study and said he could help. He thought that the condition was Tetralogy of Fallot, rather than the fatal diagnosis of Transposition. Not only could he help, but he agreed to do the operation for free! Those were the days; it is doubtful that this would happen today.

We brought over Vimala and Roshen as quickly as possible. I'll never forget our conversation before Roshen was wheeled into surgery. She was so serene!

Needless to say, the surgery was a resounding success,  Roshen went on to marry and had a lovely daughter, Shrada,  a psychologist.

Oh, and what about the name change? Vimala was a very religious person and had contacted a guru in order, she thought, to save her daughter's life. The guru told her that Roshen would survive and thrive if her name were changed to Vidya. Roshen became Vidya, and has remained Vidya ever since.

Vimala credited the guru for saving Vidya's life. I do think, however, that Dr. Griepp had something to do with it. And so did we.

Happy Birthday, Vidya! May you continue to thrive.

Note: This was read aloud to the family group on a Zoom meeting. Vidya looked beautiful!