For any medical professional, the COVID-19 pandemic was bound to be the defining point of their career and life. My, Atul Bhiwapurkar, Medical Professional, understanding of uncertainty, fear, and challenge was put to the test like never before. From the first whispers of the novel virus in Wuhan to standing on the front lines in the hospital, this pandemic transformed everything in my perspective of healthcare, resilience, and humanity.
The Early Days: Confusion and Preparation
When the novel coronavirus began spreading its wings, I was one of the cautious optimists who, like many of my colleagues, had seen many outbreaks and knew what was coming. As Dr. Atul Bhiwapurkar, a medical consultant, even as we steeled ourselves for the worst, what began to hit me was not quite what I expected. By the time cases started going up in India and the rest of the world, it was pretty obvious that we were indeed for a long fight.
Then, overnight, hospitals became different, as did our daily routines. Protocols would shift daily with emerging information base about the virus. Initially, protective equipment was sparse. Resourceful, we reused masks and improvised PPE. The anxiety of working in a high-risk environment and possibly not being fully protected created much unease. As I posted updates on Atul Bhiwapurkar LinkedIn, I saw many others in the health professional arena were experiencing similar barriers.
The Emotional Impact
The hardest part of the pandemic, for me, Atul Bhiwapurkar from Milpitas, California: “The toughest part for me was that patients would deteriorate before my eyes. Sometimes you wouldn’t be able to do much to stop it from progressing.” COVID-19 wasn’t an ordinary disease where we knew exactly how to treat and manage each case. A battle into the dark, where our best efforts sometimes weren’t enough.
There is something about the view of those patients separated from family, most fighting for breath. I remember when I comforted a patient via video call with his family. That will be his last conversation, I suppose. It dawned on me then that, during this time, we are more than doctors and nurses; we are the links between patients and their loved ones.
Resilience and Hope
It was on one of these dreary days when I saw the glimmer of hope and resilience – the camaraderie among healthcare workers. We hugged each other, held hands, and supported each other in ways that I had never seen before, even with so-called colleagues who most of the time could not keep up with work but also found a way to rally together and give emotional support. To celebrate the discharge of every patient recovered as though it were my victory was such a game-changer. Each time someone recovered was like triumphing over death.
This brings much-needed optimism through rapidly making progress in vaccine development. While the first months of vaccinations, though challenging in logistic terms, were actually very relieving in the sense that we could begin to turn the tide.
Read Also:- What Role Did Calcutta Tour Play in the Life of Atul Bhiwapurkar Patient Consultant?
Looking Ahead
The pandemic has marked my life and career in a very indelible mark. That was a trying time of unprecedented challenge, testing our strength and tolerance for human beings. Scars may not heal yet, but I am proud to be part of a workforce that saved lives and lessons with which I take with gratitude and determination to carry.
