Nitin A. Gokhale

Today, I want to share two big lessons I learnt in the past one month. So here’s what happened. It all started with an unexpected physical setback of all places in Port Blair (now Sri Vijayapuram) on 20th December. That morning, I suddenly suffered what is called in medical terms, bilateral foot drop, meaning I lost all power in my feet. I couldn’t walk without support (the 1st video shows the limpness in feet); Somehow, I got back to Delhi on a wheelchair. As I consulted Dr Satnam Chhabra, renowned neurosurgeon (he had treated me earlier) at the Gangaram Hospital. He was worried and immediately recommended surgery since my L-4 disc was compressing the nerve. As I was mentally preparing to undergo the surgery in the last week of 2024, many dark and negative thoughts were playing in the mind (will I have to spend rest of my life on wheelchair? Will prolonged sitting and writing be a problem?) My immediate family was equally worried since we were told, it normally takes 6-7 months of intense physiotherapy and exercise to regain the strength and ‘flex’ in my feet even after the surgery. As I waited for the scheduled day of surgery and as the year was ebbing away, pessimism was creeping in. Then a friend suggested I consult Dr Sandeep Vaishya, another highly-skilled neurosurgeon and executive director of Fortis Hospitals. Thanks to this friend, Dr Sandeep said he will carry out a ‘key-hole’ surgery, which is quicker than an open surgery and takes lesser time to heal. So, on 30th December, I was wheeled into the operation theatre. Five hours later, I was back in the room and by evening, the hospital physiotherapist made me walk, albeit with support (2nd video). As the New Year dawned, I was back home! Now came the part entirely dependent on my own mental and physical strength, support and care by my wife and children. Thus began the recovery process. After a weeklong break, our websites and YT channels were back to work in the meantime. Since I know nothing else but work, it was hard to stay away from office. So, I took courage in both hands and went to office on 3rd January so as to assess my own ability to recover quickly (3rd video). Two weeks since then, life is almost back to normal (4th video, welcoming Nana Patekar to office on 17th January). I like to consider myself as a practical, take-life-as-it-comes-kind of a guy. And so far life has indeed been a busy, fulfilling journey with no time to philosophise much but the last 30 days have taught me to think deeper. Why am I sharing these details? Because of two reasons: A reinforcement of my own long-held belief that life can be extremely uncertain and therefore one must live in the moment, enjoy every opportunity that comes one’s way to achieve whatever your aim in life is and not plan too much for the future. And two, family, friends and their support is the greatest wealth one can acquire. Celebrate them and this incredible gift called life. Rest is all peripheral.

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