And life smiles once again, at Army hospital

It must have been hard for them to come to terms with reality when their only child, a trainee pilot in the Indian Air Force, died in an air crash near Hyderabad two years ago, reportst Rahul Singh.

It must have been hard for them to come to terms with reality when their only child, a trainee pilot in the Indian Air Force, died in an air crash near Hyderabad two years ago.

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Bereavement came like a sudden stroke of lightning, and Major and Ms Raj Patel (name and rank changed for confidentiality) were never really sure if they would open the doors of their hearts and their homes to hope again. But life has smiled at them and the couple, both in their 50s, have been blessed with twins, delivered at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital on May 6.

The IVF-ET (in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer) treatment has returned the Patels to the joys of parenthood and given them a balm for their pained souls. Soon after the loss of their 21-year-old son, the Patels had made up their mind to have a child and fill the chasm in their lives.

Hospital commandant Major General O.P. Mathew told HT, “We had some concerns as age was not on their side. However, hats off to their will power and patience. They wanted to start life afresh and they have done it.”

Ms Patel was discharged from the RR hospital on Wednesday. The hospital, which has carried out more than 2,000 cycles of IVT-ET in the last four years, couldn’t have given her a better gift ahead of Mother’s Day on May 13. Colonel R.K. Sharma, who handled the case for over two years, said, “It has been a fulfilling experience for me to be a part of this amazing journey of theirs, despite all the highs and lows.”