February 20, 2017

• My Friend Eunice

  A few years ago, I had posted about a dear friend of mine, on Xanga. She is the director and chief of Pediatric Nephrology at UIC. (Univ. of Illinois Chicago) She was recognized for her work all over the world. She has either gone to different countries to set up Pediatric Nephrology departments, or has gone there on invitation of the faculties of the universities to be the Key Note Speaker, from St. Petersburg in Russia to Japan and in between, and all over Europe. When she “retired” a few years back, there were world renowned physicians who had traveled to Chicago to come and congratulate her for the contribution she made to the world of science and medicine. I was fortunate to attend that function. Fortunately or unfortunately, Eunice never did retire, because the university just couldn’t accept the fact that she couldn’t help out!

  Eunice has always been my role model. She took me under her wings at the medical school, and as a senior by two years, she encouraged me to study and do well. Anytime I tried to procrastinate, she was always there for me with her dimpled smiles, and led me to my Surgery or Medicine bibles!! And when I got homesick, she was there to help me laugh and always took me to some small restaurant and get me food that would be better than the hostel food.

  Eunice came from Mangalore, from a simple and unassuming family. She had no brothers, and being the older of the two children, she proved herself as the best of the best. By no means was she a nerdy student. She was so good at sports like throw ball, net ball, badminton and I was always on her team. She would always cheer me when I played tennis.
  SO why am I telling so much about my dear friend Eunice?

  Last Saturday I received a call from another mutual friend, informing me that Eunice was diagnosed with a very rare cancerous tumor of her adrenal gland. Apparently she was having some discomfort in her right upper abdomen. And she palpated herself and found a lump there. She went to the University GI specialist. After taking scans and images, she underwent a major surgical procedure, lasting almost five or six hours. Her left adrenal gland, her kidney, and part of the pancreas were removed. She was home by the time I came to know about it.

  This young beautiful lady, I can never call her old… she was always so young in spirit.—was with me in Ontario California last June when we went for the Alumni Reunion. We traveled together, and roomed together at The Hilton there. Everything was so good, we had such a fantastic time. It boggles my mind that a vibrant lady can go through such a heinous assault on her body by the cancer cells. I have never seen a more selfless and humble lady in my life. She was always giving, always helping and always with her beautiful dimpled smile.

  Eunice was in love with a classmate and all of us were sure that they would get married as soon as they graduated. But that didn’t happen. He betrayed her love. She never married or dated anyone after that, and dedicated her life to her niece and nephew and to her patients.

  I went to Chicago last week and stayed with her and helped her as much as I could. She was so embarrassed that I had to leave me family to go and be with her and take care of her. I plan to go back again in a week or two and spend couple more days with her, and shall do this until she is totally independent again.

  If you are the praying type, please think of her, and hold her in your thoughts. The next few weeks are so critical. The prognosis is grave at best.

  • 10:29 am
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