Why is Dr Dhabolkar's retirement becoming so special?

"Do not go gentle into that good night; Old age should burn and rave at close of day. Rage, rage against the dying of the light," so goes a quote by poet Dylan Thomas, also featured in the movie Interstellar.

That was what Dr Jyoti Dhabolkar, head of the ENT surgery department at KEM hospital, Parel, achieved, with marathon surgeries, lasting 24 hours, as she retired from service.
"I served the corporation for 34 years and I wanted my last day to be equally memorable," said Dhabolkar.

Her dream of keeping the operation theatre working for 24 hours was supported by her team members, resident doctors and the dean of the hospital. "Our dean allowed us. My faculty members, Dr Hetal Marfatia, Dr Neelam Sathe and Dr Arpit, along with 20 resident doctors, anaesthetists, ward boys, nurses -- all were there to support me," said Dhabolkar.
The surgeries started at 7.30 am on Saturday and went off till 7.30 am on Sunday. "We did 15 surgeries, out of which 10 were major," said Dhabolkar. On an average day, the department does 6-7 surgeries, two of which will be major.

Om Hawale (16) was one of the 15 patients. The Latur resident had met with an accident while travelling in a bus when a blunt object hit his throat region accidentally. "Two months back, he was operated in a local hospital. He developed breathing problems and underwent tracheotomy - an incision in the windpipe made to relieve obstruction to breathing. However, it further narrowed the airway. When he came to us a few days back, the area was infected, too. We suggested him an airway surgery," said Dhabolkar.
Hawale was the second patient. "In his case, we used a small part of his rib to expand the narrow airway. With the help of stents, we kept the voice box open. The stents will be removed after three months, during which the healing will take place in natural way," said Dhabolkar.

Ten airway surgeries were done on Saturday. "We operated a 17-year-old boy from Nanded who drank pesticides. He was in ICU for a long period and a tube was inserted to help him breathe. That led to the narrowing of the airway. We removed the narrowed part and brought the healthy part and sutured it," said Dhabolkar. Recognising her dedication, the corporation has honoured her with the Professor Emeritus designation.

"It was a nice gesture by Dr Dhabolkar. She has set an example on commitment towards serving poor patients. During her tenure, she has immensely contributed to the technological upgradation of the department and introduced innovative techniques in oncology and airway surgeries. She will continue to be integral part of the hospital as Professor Emeritus," said Dr Avinash Supe, dean of KEM hospital and director of major civic hospitals under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.