MADURAI: It was a heartfelt moment for doctors and nurses at the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine (GHTM) in Thoppur when 22-year-old Rita, who grew up under their care for the last eight years, tied the knot on Wednesday. The staff had been taking care of Rita and her younger brother Alex ever since their mother Rosberg succumbed to tuberculosis (TB) at the GHTM in 2015.
GHTM Resident Medical Officer Dr. S Gandhimathi Nathan said Rosberg had fallen in love with Fernandez while they were working in Bengaluru over two decades ago. "After marrying each other, the couple moved to Delhi, and before long Rita and Alex were born. However, a road accident claimed Fernandez' life, and Rosberg was left alone to fend for her two children. When her family members refused to help her, she along with the kids shifted to her native TVS Nagar in Madurai," he said.
The condition of Rosberg, who was already a TB patient, worsened and she got admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai. The doctors found that both her lungs were affected and they referred her to GHTM, where she breathed her last in November 2015. Rita was 13 years old and Alex was nine years old during then.
All was not lost for the children as the medical staff in GHTM took the duo under their care. Firstly, the children who had contracted TB from Rosberg were provided treatment. Then they were sent to a care centre in Thirunagar with the support of the social welfare department. Expenses of the kids' education were completely borne by the doctors and the home management.
"After her studies and training, Rita landed a job as a counsellor at the Palliative Centre in Thoppur with the support of current GRH Dean Dr. A Rathinavel. Meanwhile, Alex is pursuing a diploma course in IT Mechanics. On hearing about Rita's story, a person attached to a Madurai-based hotel group approached us with a marriage proposal for their foster son Joseph, who is working as a manager in their firm. Things fell into place quickly after that," Nathan added.
The marriage expenses were also shared by the doctors and they gifted the couple a one-and-a-half-cent plot near Avaniyapuram, six sovereigns of gold, and other valuables. Emotions ran high when it was time for Rita to leave with Joseph to her in-laws' house on Wednesday. "Not just me, all of us from the hospital are bidding her farewell with a heavy heart. But, we are immensely happy that she is going to start her own family," Nathan said.
Not just the doctors, Rita too was overcome with emotions. "When life turned upside down for me and my brother, these doctors stepped in and brought us up in a disciplined manner. We learned many life lessons from them. I am grateful for their love and support," her eyes welled up.
Wishing the newly-wed couple a happy married life, Dr. Rathinavel said medical staff should always try to extend support to helpless patients even after treatment. "We should be concerned for the patients' welfare also, as we a have moral duty to support society," he said.