Saturday 24 September 2011

I did not climb Mt. Everest...but touched it with my heart !

SEPTEMBER 24,  2011 (SATURDAY)

 I  will take you through my dream mountain flight.  It was a unique experience to watch the major himalayan peaks including Mt. Everest (called Sagarmatha, ).
Fasten your seat belts  and be ready...


Every passenger had a window seat, during this flight.





This is cockpit of an ATR-42 Aircraft, which took us to height of about 35,000 ft and gave close view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhoste,  and other prominant peaks from the Himalayan range.



Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal










Before we go for some more breathtaking pictures, see the following  note which   will help in identifying  the different himalayan peaks  in the pictures  down below,








Mt. Everest (29,028 ft), Mt. Lhotse (27,940 ft.), and Mt. Nuptse (25,771 ft)











































Myself, Near ATR-42

Finally   check this  spectacular vidio clip forwarded to me by some friend







Friday 23 September 2011

The Changes and Challenges ahead.

FRIDAY, September 23,  2011.

The heart attack on 13th September, 2011  has brought in many changes- small and big- short term and long term and at the same time posed  some challenges.

Take it easy- cool approach :  This attitude was already imbibed, particularly when we were on Kailash-Masaraovar Tour at an altitude of 4,860 meters, in May 2011.  Due to low oxygen in air, our actions  had to be  like in slow motion.  The Sherpas taught us to take it easy- be it a small distance walk or anything else. It seems, some more  refinement was needed.  My profession requires me act very swiftly and it has become a way life.  I need to slow down. This change has to be consciously brought in- Take it easy.

Prioritize work / time :  I never had any time, during earlier life style, to listen to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi's Malkauns and other classicals, or to write down my thoughts. Now things have changed - and for better. Long ago, I  had read  "The Last Lecture" of  Randy Pausch. Since then,  I was seriously thinking of giving fresh look to my work priorities. In fact, I succeeded, at least partially, in sqeezing out time for family.  Entering into a Partnership on professional front,  and on domestic front-Kailash Tour (May, 2011), Bangkok Tour (August, 2011), regular gym,  evening walk,  are some testimony of the changes implemented.  Some more changes will follow.

Pursue Hobbies : This was almost a non priority earlier. Now I am serious about stepping up reading, music,  and travelling ( to the extent permissible).

Professional Development :  The resting period of few weeks will come to an end. When I resume the Office, I wish to start with different vision, and attitude.  CA Dhirubhai Mehta ( Principal under whom I underwent my CA training ) is such a cool person. He used to say 'Heaven is not going to fall'.  Now that I have a capable partner to share professional assignments, I am sure, the tension part will not bother me anymore. My partner is innovative enough. We will bring in structural changes in the work portfolio.

Devote time for family and friends :  This was already on priority list. It will be strictly enforced. Interacting with near and dear ones gives pleasure. Interacting with friends, at times, gives value additions and elevates mood.


Health is Wealth :  Doctor has restored the efficiency of my heart. Now it becomes my duty make sure no more damage occurs. Due care, medications, exercise (whatever doctor will prescribe) will be strictly adhered to.

Now the last point. How it is possible to achive everything stated above, at the same time ?  Looks very dreamy and unlikely ? True, it is not easy; but not impossible for me.   For my presentation on "Effective Time Management for Professionals" during International RRC at Bangkok, I ocassioned to read works of many authors. I know, now the time has come,  to implement the techniques I studied then.   I am quite confident about achieveing above objectives, simultenously.  My resolve is very strong. There is one more reason for that. After having followed the Gym/diet regime for last one year very religiously, yet this eventuality has happened.  I felt very bad , and generally my confidence or faith in gym regime would have shattered. But no; on the other hand,  gradually, I will restore my routine  and will prove the world  one day, that I have not lost heart. In days to come, I am going to live life King size, with full vigour. This is so because, my confidence stems   firstly from strong support of my family  and  finally  and ultimately from the blessings of my Guru Madhavnath Maharaj.

Thanks,

CA Madhav V. Mahashabde

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Journey from Cardiac Arrest till Angioplasty operation on self

This is 21st September, 2011, time is 5.15 p.m.   Exactly  eight days before (on 13/9/2011) something happened which  made me change my lifestyles, my priorities. As if, Ctrl-Alt-Del has been pressed for my life.
On 13/9/2011, at around 6.15 a.m. I was doing cardio work outs, hardly aware of events which were to unfold soon.  I had first indications of a Cardiac Arrest at around 6.30 a.m. Now its very easy to say as past tense, but most difficult  to acknowledge it,  in its present tense. I  mean, we always harbour some notions about how heart attack looks like. Our filmy impressions only over amplify. In reality, I had absolutely no chest pain.  Perspiration was there; but as I was undergoing Cardio exercise in routine manner, it was difficult for rational mind to conclude that heart attack was in happening !  
After completing 50 minutes of cardio on 5 machines (and burning 490 calories), I returned home. Feeling some discomfort, I tried normal means, long breaths-water intake-rest.  For the first time, I felt that the discomfort is something different, it was causing congestion and heaviness above chest region, though without any pain. I told my wife, and she in turn sensing the gravity called our family doctor, Dr. Nehete. As per his instructions, we rushed to Om Navjeevan Hospital, Kharghar and initiated basic medications, ECG etc.   Doctor called for cardiac ambulance and took me to Cardiac Care Unit oft MGM Hospital Vashi.  Dr.Uday Jadhav told my wife Gitanjali that, the attack is massive, best Doctors from Breach Candy and Jaslok Hospitals,  Dr. Bryan Pinto, and Dr. Anand Rao, are available here, so decide in next 10 minutes whether to go ahead with angioplasty, or no.  Gitanjali was literally trembling. Very critical decision to be taken almost singularly, and that too, within next 10 minutes. No room for emotions. True to her characteristic,  she swung into action, consulted Umeshrao (my brother-in law) on couple of phone calls and conveyed her decision, and what happened thereafter, is now history. 
Operation was very interesting (!) affair to watch. The fear factor was certainly there; however, the confidence, faith and  trust in God, in Doctors, and the goodwill of all near and dear ones was very strong enough to allay my fears. I could see on a big screen  x-ray type images of heart, arteries, the stent (stainless steel tube fitted). It was indeed scary to see so many foreign objects freely moving inside my heart.  I asked doctor how much time will it take. He comforted me and said, "another 10 minutes". It was a team work. All doctors were consulting, opining, discussing and taking online opinions from outsiders, and then after having arrived at the consensus, implementing. I could not understand most of their discussion, but could make out the direction in which it was going.  Just like scientists monitoring rocket launching, express their joy by hurray, clapping, hugging , same way, doctors hurrayed  as soon as stent was fitted in place, and went to pick up their cup of coffee.   It was a junior doctor who came to me, patted on my shoulder and smilingly told me that no need to worry now I am out of danger. With great precision, in about 45 minutes doctors accomplished their goal. No anasthesia was given to me,  in fact, I was witnessing the whole operation.  After having removed the block which was 100 % in main artery, I felt relieved, and thanked God who was immediately in the form of Doctors carrying the surgery, and in the form of all near and dear ones who helped me come out of the red.
Now that I am recuperating at  home, I have many questions in mind. A major one: Why it happened to me in spite of relatively disciplined life followed by me ? For last one year, I have been strictly following gym/ diet regime, with no habbits as smoking, drinking, etc. All parameters, such as Cholesterol, Sugar, BP, everything  are normal. Therefore, doctors are also surprised, and say that cause of block is not cholesterol, but a clot which is formed possibly by stress.  I have no habbit of taking stress; but,it might have sub-conciously taken its toll. I can not deny that it was indeed very busy time professionally.
What policy changes I intend to make in life style, I will discuss in the next blogg. 
Thanks,
CA M.V.Mahashabde