(This post is an article which i wrote on Infosys blog four years back when i rejoined the company after that tragic bike accident in 2008. Thanks to my friend Ashok Sam Alex, for getting me this back)
"I accelerate my bikes throttle as if its my last day... With fast music playing in my earphones, cool breeze kissing you...with misty fog.... when you just vroooooooom at 100, its HEAVEN!!!
On this road only lorries n trucks will b passing by at tht time.. So if u r not bit careful, you could see the real heaven."
I had used these words in my blog dated November 10th 2008, unknowing that it would come true. Yes... Exactly after 1 month of writing these words, i almost saw the HEAVEN,rather HELL...
I tried to open my eyes...but i couldn't. I searched for something beside me and felt the thickly grown grass. Something was flowing down through my forehead. I touched my forehead and felt blood on my fingers. I understood, i had an accident and i am lying down somewhere, but donno where is it!!!
I had consciousness when i was lying down.But couldnt do anything.I couldnt move or open my eyes or talk. Still i manged to take my mobile form pocket and with closed eyes, i could go correctly to the telephone directory from the menu. I had that much consciousness. I randomly picked few numbers and tried to call for help. All i knew was that i had an accident but couldnt tell anyone where i was. I was unable to talk properly too.I left that method when i found it as useless. All i could do was to lie down there on roadside in a cold december night and wait for someone who pass by to see me. I cried to GOD. While lying down, the smell of blood from my body had invited the stray dogs around and some other unknown creatures. I could feel the stray dog who was standing on my chest and trying to lick the blood from my face. All i could do was to make some mere voice and try to shoo them away by hitting the grass around me. I fought.... i fought badly to survive, to keep my life with me and decided not to give up.I called out GOD to help me on top of my voice.Thats what all i could do. I kept shouting and calling GOD.I hoped if anyone who pass by hear my voice and come for help. No one came...I tried to remember what happened....December 12, 2008, 12:15 A.M
I am riding my bike at a great speed. somewhere around 90-100 km/hr.I had fast music playing in my i-pod.cool breeze and lonely road excited me more.I am going to take a turn near my house.it was then a lorry or truck (i dont remember exactly) came from opposite direction.The glare from the light of the vehicle directly fell into my eyes.I couldnt see anything as i became blind and i couldnt turn my vechicle.I went straight instead of taking the turn and hit an electric post. Now i lie down on ground with bleeding from forehead and pain as if all my bones are broken....
I could hear some voices near me. i could hear people talking. i understood there are someone near me and i asked for help. They had my infosys id card and i could hear one person telling
" I think this number belongs to him. There is no point in calling this number"
I understood they are talking about the contact number given in my id card.I manged to say them "No, its my father's number" It was 6:30 A.M in the morning by then.I felt someone lifting me and taking me to a vehicle. I realized my wait on roadside for 6 hours are over...I thanked GOD for sending the sunrays soon...
Then i opened my eyes in ICU.My hands were tied to the bed.I could see hundreds of tubes and wires all around my body.I found it hard to breathe.I struggled for a bit of breath.Doctors ran to me and placed an oxygen mask.I felt better and i fell into deep sleep...
My parents had arrived that day itself from Kerala.I came to know all the stories later.While i was on roadside, some people who passed by saw me in the morning.They gathered around but did not do anything.It was then an engineering student called Shwetha came forward and tried to lift me.Other people said,
"Don't touch...You could be in trouble.Anyways this guy won't survive!!!"
But she called her friend Manohar.He came to the spot and was ready to help.But there were no vehicle to take me.It was then a police van arrived that way.The police were going through another route but came this way as the other route was blocked...God's Grace... They took me to Appollo,Mysore in the police van. At first, Doctors were not ready to attend me or do an operation.My pressure was down and pulse was low.I was not even admitted to ICU.By Then my parents, friends and colleagues from Infy had arrived in the hospital and i was taken to ICU. Doctors said,
"its hard for this person to survive.As he was on roadside for 6 hours lot of blood has gone into lungs.Dont trust us or dont trust this hospital, trust only GOD"
Later pulse and pressure came up and they could operate me.But lot of blood was required.22 units of blood were required and the hospital authorities were not ready to give that much for a single person from the blood bank.It was then my colleagues and team mates walked in to donate blood.They gave more than 17 units of blood and i was taken to the operation theatre.
10 hours of operation!!! My facial bones were broken and there was a small crack on the spinal chord. The biggest threat was the blood went into the lungs.almost 1.5 litres of blood were sucked out of lungs.Doctors told that there is a chance of infection.if there is an infection to lungs then nothing could be done and no one can save him.On top of it next day i had fever too.Doctors considered it as starting of infection.But luckily, here also GOD was with me. It was not an infection and tempreature had settled down. Operation was a success and my life was saved.But my face got changed.They had put plates inside my face as the facial bones broke and because of that my face got changed...
On January 29th i was discharged and we directly went to Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences,Cochin.In Mysore my condition was too critical and i was on ventilator for 18 days. They had put a hole in my throat and a tube was connected through it directly to the lungs.for 18 days, i breathed through the tube,means the portion above my neck was not functioning or almost dead.when the doctors at cochin saw my medical report, all they could say was this is a miracle that this person is still alive after a serious head injury.
I had another plastic surgery at Amrita. it lasted for 12 hours. The plates which were put by appolo people were removed and imported titanium plates were used.After the operation, i got my face back.i was there for 2 more weeks. And i was discharged on february 1st.
I had so many bad dreams when i was in ICU.A fear filled in me when it was becomign dark.There were many instances where i struggled for a breath and saw the end of my life. Thrice i saw the face of death and lost my hope.I sruggled like hell for not to be drowned in the ocean of death.There was some power which pulled me back to life. There was some force which made the GOD to decide that he will give me one more chance. It was the prayers of my family, friends and colleagues....
I never thought so many people liked me this much.Everyone were praying for me, right from my mom and dad to those whom i have never seen even once. It was the support of my colleagues which gave me the strength to survive.I owe my Life to them...I thank GOD for giving me a second chance to live. May be i have not fulfilled the aims of this life yet. Or may be he wants me to do more things in this life itself. Whatever it may be, always my eyes fill with tears when i think about the grace of GOD and about the love and kindness people around showered on me...
Today, when im alone, those 6 hours on roadside come to my mind.I get a shock when i think about it.Doctor at Amrita once said, Time is the best healer..Yes, over time, i may get over those thoughts...I never thought i could come back to my desk, browse BB and write this blog. But life is full of surprises.We never know what happens next moment.One thing i know for sure, There are many people to support me, to be with me when i need them most and above all, i know, there is Almighty looking after me...I am under his protection...under the cover which protects all around the world...There is GOD for me.... Its a rebirth... A second life...I realize it. Thank You GOD for showering your blessings on me...I bow before you...Accept my tears....
- Sarath
"I accelerate my bikes throttle as if its my last day... With fast music playing in my earphones, cool breeze kissing you...with misty fog.... when you just vroooooooom at 100, its HEAVEN!!!
On this road only lorries n trucks will b passing by at tht time.. So if u r not bit careful, you could see the real heaven."
I had used these words in my blog dated November 10th 2008, unknowing that it would come true. Yes... Exactly after 1 month of writing these words, i almost saw the HEAVEN,rather HELL...
I tried to open my eyes...but i couldn't. I searched for something beside me and felt the thickly grown grass. Something was flowing down through my forehead. I touched my forehead and felt blood on my fingers. I understood, i had an accident and i am lying down somewhere, but donno where is it!!!
I had consciousness when i was lying down.But couldnt do anything.I couldnt move or open my eyes or talk. Still i manged to take my mobile form pocket and with closed eyes, i could go correctly to the telephone directory from the menu. I had that much consciousness. I randomly picked few numbers and tried to call for help. All i knew was that i had an accident but couldnt tell anyone where i was. I was unable to talk properly too.I left that method when i found it as useless. All i could do was to lie down there on roadside in a cold december night and wait for someone who pass by to see me. I cried to GOD. While lying down, the smell of blood from my body had invited the stray dogs around and some other unknown creatures. I could feel the stray dog who was standing on my chest and trying to lick the blood from my face. All i could do was to make some mere voice and try to shoo them away by hitting the grass around me. I fought.... i fought badly to survive, to keep my life with me and decided not to give up.I called out GOD to help me on top of my voice.Thats what all i could do. I kept shouting and calling GOD.I hoped if anyone who pass by hear my voice and come for help. No one came...I tried to remember what happened....December 12, 2008, 12:15 A.M
I am riding my bike at a great speed. somewhere around 90-100 km/hr.I had fast music playing in my i-pod.cool breeze and lonely road excited me more.I am going to take a turn near my house.it was then a lorry or truck (i dont remember exactly) came from opposite direction.The glare from the light of the vehicle directly fell into my eyes.I couldnt see anything as i became blind and i couldnt turn my vechicle.I went straight instead of taking the turn and hit an electric post. Now i lie down on ground with bleeding from forehead and pain as if all my bones are broken....
I could hear some voices near me. i could hear people talking. i understood there are someone near me and i asked for help. They had my infosys id card and i could hear one person telling
" I think this number belongs to him. There is no point in calling this number"
I understood they are talking about the contact number given in my id card.I manged to say them "No, its my father's number" It was 6:30 A.M in the morning by then.I felt someone lifting me and taking me to a vehicle. I realized my wait on roadside for 6 hours are over...I thanked GOD for sending the sunrays soon...
Then i opened my eyes in ICU.My hands were tied to the bed.I could see hundreds of tubes and wires all around my body.I found it hard to breathe.I struggled for a bit of breath.Doctors ran to me and placed an oxygen mask.I felt better and i fell into deep sleep...
My parents had arrived that day itself from Kerala.I came to know all the stories later.While i was on roadside, some people who passed by saw me in the morning.They gathered around but did not do anything.It was then an engineering student called Shwetha came forward and tried to lift me.Other people said,
"Don't touch...You could be in trouble.Anyways this guy won't survive!!!"
But she called her friend Manohar.He came to the spot and was ready to help.But there were no vehicle to take me.It was then a police van arrived that way.The police were going through another route but came this way as the other route was blocked...God's Grace... They took me to Appollo,Mysore in the police van. At first, Doctors were not ready to attend me or do an operation.My pressure was down and pulse was low.I was not even admitted to ICU.By Then my parents, friends and colleagues from Infy had arrived in the hospital and i was taken to ICU. Doctors said,
"its hard for this person to survive.As he was on roadside for 6 hours lot of blood has gone into lungs.Dont trust us or dont trust this hospital, trust only GOD"
Later pulse and pressure came up and they could operate me.But lot of blood was required.22 units of blood were required and the hospital authorities were not ready to give that much for a single person from the blood bank.It was then my colleagues and team mates walked in to donate blood.They gave more than 17 units of blood and i was taken to the operation theatre.
10 hours of operation!!! My facial bones were broken and there was a small crack on the spinal chord. The biggest threat was the blood went into the lungs.almost 1.5 litres of blood were sucked out of lungs.Doctors told that there is a chance of infection.if there is an infection to lungs then nothing could be done and no one can save him.On top of it next day i had fever too.Doctors considered it as starting of infection.But luckily, here also GOD was with me. It was not an infection and tempreature had settled down. Operation was a success and my life was saved.But my face got changed.They had put plates inside my face as the facial bones broke and because of that my face got changed...
On January 29th i was discharged and we directly went to Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences,Cochin.In Mysore my condition was too critical and i was on ventilator for 18 days. They had put a hole in my throat and a tube was connected through it directly to the lungs.for 18 days, i breathed through the tube,means the portion above my neck was not functioning or almost dead.when the doctors at cochin saw my medical report, all they could say was this is a miracle that this person is still alive after a serious head injury.
I had another plastic surgery at Amrita. it lasted for 12 hours. The plates which were put by appolo people were removed and imported titanium plates were used.After the operation, i got my face back.i was there for 2 more weeks. And i was discharged on february 1st.
I had so many bad dreams when i was in ICU.A fear filled in me when it was becomign dark.There were many instances where i struggled for a breath and saw the end of my life. Thrice i saw the face of death and lost my hope.I sruggled like hell for not to be drowned in the ocean of death.There was some power which pulled me back to life. There was some force which made the GOD to decide that he will give me one more chance. It was the prayers of my family, friends and colleagues....
I never thought so many people liked me this much.Everyone were praying for me, right from my mom and dad to those whom i have never seen even once. It was the support of my colleagues which gave me the strength to survive.I owe my Life to them...I thank GOD for giving me a second chance to live. May be i have not fulfilled the aims of this life yet. Or may be he wants me to do more things in this life itself. Whatever it may be, always my eyes fill with tears when i think about the grace of GOD and about the love and kindness people around showered on me...
Today, when im alone, those 6 hours on roadside come to my mind.I get a shock when i think about it.Doctor at Amrita once said, Time is the best healer..Yes, over time, i may get over those thoughts...I never thought i could come back to my desk, browse BB and write this blog. But life is full of surprises.We never know what happens next moment.One thing i know for sure, There are many people to support me, to be with me when i need them most and above all, i know, there is Almighty looking after me...I am under his protection...under the cover which protects all around the world...There is GOD for me.... Its a rebirth... A second life...I realize it. Thank You GOD for showering your blessings on me...I bow before you...Accept my tears....
- Sarath
