Board exam time is generally a strenuous period for both the students and their parents. Particularly the 10th boards, as the student is yet to experience that stress.
However, if in the middle of it, you must undergo a surgery, what would you do? Miss a few exams?
Not if you are Tejal Ghandoke! Let me share her see-saw journey through her exam time that would make you marvel at her never-give-up attitude, commitment, and maturity.
On Friday, 17 March, Tejal had her SSc board exam, when she woke up with stomach pain and discomfort. Her parents gave her some medication, assuming it to be gastric trouble because of anxiety, as they headed to the exam centre.
Tejal somehow managed to write her exam, but having thrown up and continually being in discomfort, she slept in between too. In the evening, her mother consulted a doctor who again suspected anxiety, but no medication had been able to ameliorate the pain, which kept increasing through the night.
In the morning, Tejal’s mother, upon speaking to the doctor, looked to get an ultrasound done. It helped that the parents of her friend were doctors and so could help get this done on priority. As soon as the doctor saw her ultrasound reports, she called the surgeon who said that she needed surgery immediately, as her appendix seemed to have burst.
Tejal’s father was travelling back but her mother had to decide on an urgent basis. By 3 PM, she was in the OT. A simple surgery took over two hours as there had been some complications, yet a massive relief when it was over.
Tejal was under anaesthesia till 11:30 PM under close watch. At 5 AM the next day, she woke up to tell her parents (imagine!) that she must go for her Hindi exam! Her parents had already apprised the school, who had further informed CBSE about the situation, but no one would have expected this!
In any case, Tejal was put on a stretcher but asked for a wheelchair. With a tube in her stomach fixed to a pouch and a drip, she went to the exam centre along with two attendants and her mother. She went there in an ambulance, still heavily sedated.
Tejal was provided a scribe by CBSE. After this, she gave her math exam with a cannula in one hand while on a wheelchair. It was only on Friday, 24 March that her stitches were cut, and some normalcy returned.
Imagine the pain, the state of mind, the determination, and the sense of responsibility of this young woman in the wake of this adversity in her life! Imagine having to study in this state – what an inspiration to never give up!
Tejal received a call from the Amity Group Chairperson, Amita Chauhan’s office, appreciating her courage and bravery as an inspiration to all.
by Sunaina Chaturvedi (98119 26287)
