Patients Speak – Messages

For the last three months, I have been undergoing Virtual Reality Treatment for 30 minutes every day and the best part about this form of physiotherapy is that it is so much like playing a video game. This helps me in staying motivated and focused as I have to score more points, which simultaneously improves my balance and coordination. After the first one month of VRT, I was able to regain movement in his left hand and there has been an improvement in coordination between my legs and hands as well. My favourite game is the one where I have to catch an animal peeping out of different holes

Thanks to Apollo my wife has been saved from a life endangering infection in the spine. From 1992 when Ovarian Cancer was detected she had had a series of major surgeries initially directed towards Cancer Ovary but later to correct sequel to various treatment given including radiation. Present admission was with an illness unconnected either to cancer or its treatment. Discitis at L5 S1. Once again diagnosis was quickly arrived at, appropriate treatment instituted including surgery on the spine. Eighty year old Jayalakshmi was discharged with advice on follow up to be done. Kudos to Apollo.

Permit me to record my gratitude & indebtedness to the team of doctors who jointly helped my wife tide over the crisis. Doctors Ravi, Senthil, Anand Murugesan, Ramasubramanian deserve credit for their commitment & dedication matched of course by high technical expertise. Unmatched infrastructure available in Apollo made a huge difference. Nurses in HDU were exemplary in caring for my wife. Last but not least administrative support extended by Dr.Bama (remaining always incognito but very effective) was tremendous.

My salutations once more to Dheergadharisi Dr.Reddy who had made this possible and MS.Preetha reddy who is seamlessly pursuing the goal .

In Sickness and in Health

The misty skies and hesitant drizzle make Chennai look alluring and mysterious, quite unlike the bustling, rapacious city of ten million people it has become. I walk in from the drenched streets to the fluorescent lit foyer of Apollo hospital. There is no chance to notice the structure, setting or décor, as I am swept right away into a clamoring mass of humanity. Slowly, this moving, flailing, mass of persons parts to reveal the individuals, the people who have come from everywhere, hoping for everything.

Almost unfailingly they clutch a plastic bag crammed with a record of their lives, the secrets of their bodies. Some of these bags are cheerfully emblazoned with names of popular silk sari shops, x-rays, ECGs and blood reports poking out between the handles. Some of them, these patients, shuffle along, others rush purposefully, determinedly chasing a cure for their ailments. There are those who look fearful. Some are hopeful, others happy. Most look exhausted and some seem to have started the process of grieving. Almost everyone is accompanied by a family member and there are uniformed custodians of the hospital everywhere, directing the flow, moving everyone along, and preventing chaos. Almost 25 years ago I stood with my sister holding a silk cushion with a pair of scissors, ready for the President of India, Zail Singh to cut the ribbon inaugurating the opening of this hospital. The brainchild of our family doctor and dear friend Dr. P. C. Reddy, the hospital has grown and now is a chain, taking care of people everywhere. They have all walked these corridors to be treated or visit friends, family or colleagues; Indira Gandhi, MGR, Karunanidhi, Rajiv Gandhi, film stars, the middle class, rich and poor, the forgotten and cast off. Apollo is now a behemoth corporate structure with hospitals, clinics and pharmacies across India, South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Right after graduating from Madras Medical College I worked briefly in the ICU of Apollo hospital. Dr. P. C. Reddy would make his lightening rounds and fix each doctor with his penetrating gaze and ask the one most pertinent question about each patient. I learned to cut through the red herrings, to distinguish the trees from the forest, and get to the core of the patient’s problem. Later I went away to many gleaming hospitals abroad but I missed that the frail patient lifting folded hands in a Namaste. A Namaste of thanks, of blessing or of supplication. Apollo has often been criticized for being elitist, for catering to the rich. What I have seen is often different. Doctors and administrators trying to discount prices, surgeons foregoing their fees, and everywhere around me the common man, the patient, gets the benefit of cutting edge technology at a tenth of the cost as a developed country.

Twenty years ago I watched through the glass, paralyzed with fear, and it seemed that Dr. Reddy was waving his arms, and directing an opera of tragic proportions. Instead, he was saving the life of my father, his friend. The pain had my father in its vice like grip as drug after drug did not work and his heart attack marched relentlessly on. Dr. Reddy did not give up, rock steady, a General with his troops, trying everything for endless hours. Finally he made the decision which was ahead of its times, to go into my Dad’s arteries, even in the middle of the heart attack, with a balloon to open up the choked blood vessels. Many years later the New England Journal of Medicine would report trials and success of balloon angioplasty in patients during an acute heart attack. This time I am here again and my father once again is the patient. He has had a state of art surgery, coronary artery bypass on a beating heart and a pacemaker implantation. They could not have done better at Cleveland clinic or any leading center around the world. I am grateful for my father’s life. More than that I am proud of the advancements and strides our hospital, my city, our country has taken. Patients routinely travel to India for joint replacements, heart transplants, and cosmetic surgery. The old guard of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, urologists, surgeons and Gynecologists still anchor the hospital, their compassion a guidepost for their newer upcoming colleagues. And they are everywhere, the young Turks, some my former college mates, the young world renowned Surgeons and doctors to whom patients are coming from across the globe drawn with the power of the internet and Google research.

Where does Apollo go next? Obviously the main goal would be to strengthen Centres of Excellence, expand teaching and clinical research and trials. There is however another great unmet need: India’s large rural and underserved population. In Tamil Nadu alone there are only 3989 Government doctors in rural areas and approximately 12,000 in Urban areas. All teaching and district headquarter hospitals are located in Urban areas. The Private health care in villages is at best sketchy. There are many health service delivery questions the world grapples with. How to deliver optimum care to an ageing population and harness technology while controlling spiraling costs? How to deliver medical care by utilizing telemedicine and the internet to far flung areas of our world? How to control sanitation and infectious diseases? We hope Apollo’s growth and renaissance will lead to the answers to this and so many more questions for a better India and a healthier world.

When I was 80 in 2010, my surgeon Dr.Paul Ramesh told me that if I if I chose medicinal aid it will be palliative but choosing bypass surgery will be more curative. The one memorable line which made me decide on surgery was his saying “I will do it as I would do it to my father.” I am hale and hearty now and better than what I was at 80.

Hi to everyone at Apollo,

July 21, 2011 will be my first year anniversary. Every aspect of my decision to go to Apollo Hospital Chennai has proven to be successful. I have seen firsthand the highest quality of care and professionalism you are capable of. I wish to thank Dr. Reddy & Dr. Girinath for the time they spent with me. And to you Dr. Paul Ramesh and Dr. Sunder, your dedication to your profession has come shining through once again. Special thanks to all of your staff, starting with your International Patients group. I am doing tremendously well, I am even taking two days off of work – our team won!

My first contact with Apollo Hospitals, Chennai was in March, 2010. This was the beginning of what was to be a very positive relationship with Apollo Hospital’s International Patients Service Division and the Cardiothoracic Surgery team. The decision was made to have my Heart Transplant done at Apollo Hospital. The end result is that, on August 4, 2010 my procedure has been finished and I am very happily back home now. Thanks to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai – Ron Lemmer, U S A.

Ron is back home in the States, safe and sound. He has started his aftercare and have had fantastic results. He had a right heart catheter done last week and all of the numbers were good. We think the Doctor and the team at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai have done a wonderful job and we are so pleased with the results. It has been everything we dreamed of and more. Thank you again for saving my husband’s life. He and I will be forever grateful for what you have done for us – Shelly Lemmer.

This is a wonderful hospital. The doctors & support staff are very co-operative and amiable. The way in which medical treatment is rendered at Apollo Chennai with a humane touch is extremely praiseworthy.

Apollo has touched my life, thanks to its wonderful doctors and staff and Chennai is a good city. Thank you Apollo.

To Apollo Speciality Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

REF: APPRECIATION LETTER ANNA S. MUSHI AND APOLLO SPECIALITY HOSPITAL

Heading above refer, my wife (Anna) has suffered from chronic neck pain and loose power on right hand and leg. The pain started slowly and keeps growing up for the past 3 years. We have consulted many surgeons and medical checks in Tanzania with no success. The last Hospital was our national hospital where the MRI scan was done and detect a problem in SIPNAL CORD and been advised to undergo for a spinal cord surgery. According to availability of the neuro surgeon speciality and the nature of the surgery required. I deside to seek for medical treatment oversees. My brother’s wife was in Apollo Speciality Hospital under Dr. VIKAS for a LIVER SURGICAL which took place on MAY, 2012, the operation went successful. I got Dr. Vikas contact from my brother, and contact him through phone/Email and deliver all my wife medical documents. My request did not meet Dr. Vikas specialties, he then by pass my documents to Dr.Parthiban J.K.B.C, who is a senior neuro Surgeon Consultant. His replay was to see the patient. We made our way to Apollo Speciality Hospital on 29th of June, 2012 and arrive on 30th of June 2012 the Miracle Day. With amazing speed, from the day arrived she did be sent for medical checks for 6Days continuously under Dr.Parthiban and his team, every step we was well informed.

On 05th July 12, 2012 We had a call to meet Dr.Parthiban in his office for the check result, and treatment plan, as per Doctor , Spinal cord surgery was required to remove the lesion, and the time to conduct the operation he estimate to be 8Hours. I knew how danger the operation was, look at my wife and see how she fill and cry. I had no way to go; the only way was surgery to take place. I made my decision, the operation to take place and save my lovely wife life. On 09th July 12, 2012 the Miracle day arrived and the surgery was conducted successful, for seven hours, under Dr.Parthiban and his lovely team. She then moved to a medium Intensive care Unit, where she stays for 24HRS.First time I meet her ,she was In ICU Room, the only thing I saw was a smile on her face. I thanks GOD for all happened to my wife. Dr.Parthiban I thanks you again, God have path the Miracle through your hands with the help of Apollo Speciality Hospital Team you did it. Big up to all for the help done to my wife life. Thank you all, May God continue to up hold Apollo Speciality Hospital and the Team. Well come to Tanzania all. Our contact as per above address.