CHENNAI: It was a confluence of sorts this Republic Day at the Government Royapettah Hospital, where patients from all over the country came together to fete those who had helped them come through difficult situation.

The surgical gastroenterology department headed by Dr. S.M. Chandramohan had invited its patients, people who had recovered from violent damage to their system caused by consuming acid, to share their happiness and gratitude at being given a second chance to live a normal life.

Several trials

Like Ramesh, from Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, whose family has adopted a new God — Dr. Chandramohan, who set him right after he consumed acid as a young boy. Going through several trials, Ramesh landed up at the Government Royapettah Hospital, found that he could live and eat without a tube that ran into his stomach; gained weight and learned to speak Tamil.

It was Ramesh's story in the local press that brought Manivannan from Madurai to the GRH.

He had also consumed acid and the hospitals in the southern district had managed to save his live, but could not help him eat again, despite spending Rs. 5 lakh.

At GRH doctors performed a complex procedure, coloplasty, taking a portion of large intestine to the neck to help him eat again.

Ramesh was full of praise for the team lead by Dr. Chandramohan, his assistants M. Kanagavel, V. Gomathi and L. Anand, Ramesh said, "Not even my mother understands me the way the nurses here do."

Sentiments that were echoed by recovering patients Anjana Das and Jagadeeswari.

The State Health secretary V.K. Subburaj said the department was doing excellent work, helping poor patients. He urged youngsters to desist from consuming acid.

Failures were part of life and it was important to take them in stride, he added.

Certificates distributed

Earlier, he distributed certificates to representatives from various departments in the hospital that had helped in treating patients who had consumed acid.

Director of Medical Education (in-charge) Thiagavalli Kirubakaran, GRH Superintendent Soma Shekar and resident medical officer S.Somasundaram also spoke at the meeting.

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