She had been ailing for a while. Chronic and protracted ailments necessitated frequent hospitalisation. She was head nurse of Ward V of the hospital I worked in. Ward V is where cancer patients are treated. This ward would reek of human tragedy —more than medicines and floor cleaners. Much more than physical pain, the agony, anguish and uncertainty are evident on the faces of patients admitted there and their attendants. Not uncommonly, patients beyond treatment, awaiting death are admitted many times to ward V. The head nurse, whose ailments eventually got the better of her, wilted by the day, adding to her patients’ pain.
Pale and often breathless, she toiled. Despite her ailments, she wanted to work for cancer patients, a vocation that demanded empathy, understanding and patience, which she possessed in abundance. Her smile was her constant companion. She smiled at life, her work and her patients, unmindful of the gap of her missing tooth showing through. Her patients and colleagues loved this lady with an eternal smile. Her constant presence in the ward tending to those fighting endeared her to so many including tiny tots who fell to the unforgiving disease that cancer is. She came to be affectionately called ‘mummy of Ward V’. She and I had a special bonding.
Even as she took ill, I fell to a major stroke, leaving my left side paralysed that wreaked havoc to my profession, surgery. Whenever our paths crossed, she made it a point to help me physically. This, when she needed more support than I did. Whenever she found me depressed, she used to wobble up to me, to take my hands in hers, shaking and pressing it affectionately, and then would flash me a thumbs up before walking away. On being enquired about her health, she would reply with a smile, “going on”. To me she was a source of inspiration and strength.
The grit and kindness this ailing nurse oozed put me, (often complaining about my ‘fate’), to shame. The meritorious service of this nurse was recognised by the Kerala government when she was awarded the Ashraya award by the then Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan. I felicitated her on the occasion through a letter to the editor of this paper. I made sure she read that letter. Later in the day I received a feeble ‘thank you’ over phone. The other day Sister Philomena passed away, leaving a huge void in the entire hospital, especially ward V, where she toiled with that omnipresent smile. This ‘mummy with the lamp’ will be missed badly by the world, me, and patients admitted to ward V.