Out of the body…
I stood there like a statue,
Without moving a muscle.
I watched the person on the bed,
And the doctors around him.
The man was trying to say something,
But nothing could be heard.
He was clutching his chest and trying to communicate,
But nothing was clear as he was becoming unconscious.
The doctors were examining him,
Trying to find what was wrong,
They said he was not breathing,
They were getting really worried,
As they couldn’t find out why.
One doctor, an elder one, tapped his chest,
It sounded like hitting a ball full of water.
The doctor said something about internal bleeding,
About chest cavity flooded with blood,
And something about the lungs collapsing.
There was a sudden flurry of activity all around,
The doctors were galvanized into action by the diagnosis,
The nurses ran in different directions,
To get the instruments the doctors wanted,
One doctor, an younger one, took a small knife,
He made an incision on the side of the right chest cavity.
A nurse inserted a plastic tube into it.
Another doctor, the elder one, took another scalpel,
He too made an incision, but on the side of the left chest cavity,
Another nurse inserted another tube into it,
Two others connected the ends of the tubes to bottles.
Blood, dark in color, gushed out like a burst dam,
It flowed as if from a water cannon,
The bottles were full in no time and were replaced.
Blood continued to flow…
After a few minutes the flow began to slow,
The torrent became a stream,
The stream became a trickle,
And finally the bleeding stopped.
The collapsed lungs slowly expanded,
The patient started breathing,
Slowly, very slowly, at first,
Then the breathing became normal and steady.
The doctors started shaking the patient,
They tapped the chest and checked the breathing.
The patient stirred and groaned,
Slowly regaining consciousness.
He opened his eyes and looked at the doctors.
You gave us a scare,
They told him; they were relieved.
I nodded as I knew it was touch and go,
It was my first out of the body experience!
And hopefully my last!
Sam said,
December 6, 2011 at 1:08 am
Be well, be happy.
Vandana said,
December 6, 2011 at 5:58 am
You bring out the image so beautifully, so vividly, I could see the whole scene as I read it. It’s poignant too, intensely so. I sincerely hope this is not autobigraphical….
Jane said,
December 6, 2011 at 9:22 am
Alexis, good writing! It sounded so realistic…hope it was not you going through this ordeal…. Tk cr.
Alexis Leon said,
December 6, 2011 at 11:40 am
Sam: Thank you…
Vandana: Thank you…Yes it is autobiographical, happened exactly 18 years back–4th day of my accident while I was in the ICU.
Jane: Thanks. Yes, it is my personal experience.
sheeba said,
December 6, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Again a December.. Onnum orkkenda, Alex
We all want to see u happy n healthy..
Lots of n love n prayers..
Paresh said,
December 7, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Speechless 🙁 Just prayers for your well-being. It is very easy to say ‘forget about it’, but not easy to do. Strength to you mate. I look up to you for courage. Love. God bless you.
Vandana said,
December 7, 2011 at 7:19 pm
I have been trying to write a response to your reply, but the words just seemed hollow, cliched. There are times when words are completely inadequate. I do not know you personally, but I would like to send hugs and prayers your way. You are amazing.
Alexis Leon said,
December 7, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Sheeba: I try not to remember. But my memory fails in failing me. Thanks for the prayers. It has been 18 years, but these are the wounds that time can’t heal; you just learn to live with it and get better at controlling your emotions.
Paresh: Thanks buddy; I know you would understand the feeling.
Vandana: Thanks for the hugs and prayers. I wrote the poem, a few years back, but couldn’t decide whether to post it or not. This year just decided to post it 🙂
Dr Harimohan said,
December 8, 2011 at 1:14 am
very evocative …. did you have any near death xperience at that time like moving towards a light etc ,these are commonly seen in resuscitated patients ?
TME said,
December 8, 2011 at 4:23 am
Certain scars will never go.While reading I prayed let it not be your experience. Alexis, Truly, I want to let you know that you are always an inspiration to us and I always look up your blog when I go through the tough times. May God bless you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you….!
Alexis Leon said,
December 8, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Harimohan: Yes, I had two of that too–NDEs. I had a couple of close calls while I was in ICU.
TME: Very true and thank you for your wishes. I too wish you and your family a merry Christmas and happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.
pophabhi said,
December 12, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Alexis, your words keep flowing like river. Cannot imagine what the experience could have been. Thanks, for you brought me back to reality and the actual end. It make all of us be less proud, for all of us nothing but specs of light destined to join that greater power.
Alexis Leon said,
December 17, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Abhi: Thanks Abhi. I completely agree with on the second point.