A comma, a full stop.

Manjunath Kalmani: Was a software engineer in Silicon valley. Paralyzed from neck down. Spinal cord injury level C4 when he got injured in a car Accident at Nashville, TN, in April 2002.. slowly injury level became C2 complete. On ventilator 100%. Only communication- writing through sip n puff mouth control device.

Presently in Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.

Well, you think you have problems? Think again. Do you have enough problems?

I don't know why I started writing this on my blog- may be sympathy, may be frustration at seeing someone so helpless, may be the fear at a 'what if scenario' (what if something like that happens to me?), may be this... may be that... may be...

For one, I did see (and yes, experience as well) a similar situation to a far lesser degree where you see someone helpless, bedridden slowly waiting for the day when there can be a full stop to the suffering. My grandmother was bedridden (more for age related issues) for nearly half a year, a month in hospital. I understand the pain that comes along.

Why did I write 'A comma, a full stop' as the heading: Manjunath's life is a full stop. he knows he is not mentally ill, he knows he can do all the mental activities you and I are capable off... but still he cannot do those. He is a chronically ill patient. I actually pity the family of Manjunath too. Some people may not appreciate it. But I am sure the lives of his parents and immediate family at Koppal would have sorely got affected. When someone you know very well suffers, a part of you automatically starts suffering too... a comma seems to crop up in a smooth flowing life.

As someone says - 'If 'ifs' and 'buts' were pots and pans, there would be no tinkers'. Life goes on. But, lets take in a moment's silence. Lets do something which will lessen the burden of a fellow human.

May be he can lead a near normal life. Look at the pic. There's a person sitting- he's Perry. May be he can sit too. You know that is a great pleasure for someone who has slept for past 5 years- to sit, to move on a wheelchair. That's bliss.

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Ciao till next time...Harsha