Falling in Love With Medicine: Healing and hope with my hero

摘要

I was born weeks early with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve. My first weeks in this world were spent hospitalized under an incubator. Throughout this time, my parents, neither of whom has medical training, struggled to understand the diagnosis, the prognosis and the immediate next steps. Their guiding light in these early days was the pediatric cardiologist assigned my care, Dr. Shailaja Nadkarni, Taking countless hours with my family, she drew valves on the exam table paper, explained interventional and surgical options, as even then, it was inevitable that I would one day need valve replacement. As I reflect on this time in my life it troubles me to imagine the distress that my parents dealt with as a result of caring for a sick child. They have overwhelmed me with love through many tribulations. They put her faith in the medical professionals who provided care for me in those weeks, namely, Dr. Nadkarni. Since the day of my birth she has served as my personal pediatric cardiologist.