Thank you

Thanks to all the people who wrote and called to ask about Abbu's health. Alhumdulillah, he's home now. Everything happened on time, the treatment was exact and expedient and he's doing well. The angiography particularly was done promptly and I think that's what made the difference. I remember when he had his first heart attack a few years ago, how we waited anxiously by his bedside waiting for the medications to work. Rescue angiography has changed all that and now the standard of care includes percutaneous intervention as part of the treatment. It's life-saving and I can only wish more hospitals have it.

It's been heartening to receive all the visitors who came to see Abbu. Most of them were from his hospital, people I hadn't seen for years but who knew me from when I would visit as a child. There were also patients who came straight from the clinic when they heard about my father. He's a very modest man and it's only through others that I get to see the extent of the work he does, how well he cares for his patients and how much they care for him. People tend to dismiss primary care as pedestrian medicine, an easy consolation for all those not talented enough to enter the specialities, but my father's work as an internist speaks for itself. Although he's qualified to practise a speciality the bulk of the work he does is outpatient medicine and the relationships that have been cultivated as a result of that defy explanation. I'm overwhelmed by people's response at his bedside. His boss bent over and kissed his forehead. Nurses chide him for working so hard. (They also blamed my reluctance to marry as being the cause of his troubles.) And patients come in and discretely press gifts on to us before praying for his quick recovery. The definition of a successful medical career these days is grounded on research and publications and the ability to churn out revenues but I'd say my father, who hasn't published a thing and works on a fixed income, has had a wildly successful career. I can only hope mine is as enriching.

Thank you all for your prayers.