Power of being positive

That nothing else contributes as much to one's sense of well- being and health as a positive mental attitude is clear by this profile of Capt. V.V.K. Mani by KAUSALYA SANTHANAM.

A POSITIVE Mental Attitude (PMA) can make a crucial difference to our lives. The difference between brooding over our problems and moving ahead; between living in the shadows and claiming a place in the sun, between wallowing in self-pity and helping others overcome.

In the sphere of health, nothing can contribute as much to a sense of well-being as a positive mental attitude. "I feel healthy, I feel happy, I feel terrific," is one of the slogans advocated by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone in their influential best-seller Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude. They recommend one to develop the PMA philosophy. "Prepare for any possible emergency. Always have something to live for. Never abandon hope", are some of the principles.

"He/she has lost the will to fight, to live" is a statement one hears often. Sometimes, doctors are baffled. While one patient succumbs easily to a particular disease, another makes a miraculous recovery. The miracle is often effected through PMA. While Negative Mental Attitude (NMA) spells defeat and death, PMA represents life and achievement. It is the wonder drug that enables the severely disabled to participate in the Olympics, travel across the world and climb the Everest.

Personalities like prize-winning physicist Stephen Hawking are symbols of the extraordinary power of PMA. But there are also ordinary people around us who display tremendous resilience and courage while conquering health hurdles. Like Captain V.V.K. Mani.

The ever-cheerful Capt. Mani is a busy man. A member of many voluntary organisations, he travels extensively, often to places abroad. In addition to a full-time job, he juggles his roles as a counsellor and coordinator of charitable institutions. Not surprising one would think. There are many like him who cram 28 hours of work into a 24-hour day. But then you have to go back to 1998 to admire his grit and determination.

To hear his story is to be impressed by the amazing benefits of the power of positive thinking. As he sits talking to you while on a visit to Chennai, it is difficult to believe the trauma this Bangalore-based executive of a leading national daily has gone through in these three years. When he narrates the account of his health graph, it seems incredible that he is so matter of fact about it. For most of us who let a migraine or a bout of fever get us down, his story is inspirational. But then one needs to have the strength of purpose and the optimism he has. You realise that it is possible for all of us to develop this - only if we have the will.

One evening in January 1998, as he was getting ready to leave for the airport to receive an important visitor, he felt a searing pain in his stomach. Life seemed almost perfect till then for this 62-year-old former armyman. From childhood, he had set goals for himself and had managed to achieve them. School topper, college union secretary, a plum post in a leading international advertising agency followed by a stint in the army. After retirement, he had obtained this job, one which he loved and enjoyed. Both his son and daughter were doing well and things were going smoothly for him with his wife, Lakshmi, being a constant source of support. He had long wanted to involve himself in the activities of the Rotary Club and had become the president and then the district governor of the organisation. Now, while on his way to receive the International Governor of the club, who was to inaugurate the international meet the next day, the pain had come on.

The ex-soldier, a diabetes patient for several years, had been told when he was 45 that his kidneys had been affected. But if he was careful, he could carry on without a major problem for the next 15 years. "I was able through exercise and golf, to control my diabetes and blood pressure and continue with my normal activities."

The pain which he experienced on the eve of the meet was unbearable. Still he managed to tide over the situation with pain killers and through sheer will power tackle the hectic organisational and administrative demands of a three-day Rotary meet involving 3,000 people.

After the event, he checked into a hospital. Tests revealed complete renal failure. "Following three sessions of dialysis, I became better and was shifted out of the intensive care unit. Two choices were given to me - dialysis every alternate day or kidney transplant. I decided on the transplant but went back to work till a suitable donor was found. I underwent dialysis every two days."

During one such session, two blocked arteries were found. "The family was called and an angioplasty performed." Once the cardiac clearance was obtained, he registered at Apollo Hospital in Chennai for a kidney transplant. "My nephrologist, Dr. Sudarshan Ballal of Manipal Hospital in Bangalore said we might have to wait for a month. But surprisingly, within 48 hours I was informed that they had found a matching kidney for me and I could come to Chennai for the operation. Much to the chargrin of some of my family members and friends, I decided to postpone the operation since I was holding charge as 'Rotary Governor' and would be out of action for two months if I went through the surgery. They were shocked that when it is so difficult to obtain a suitable kidney, I had put off the operation. But I stuck to my decision and did not regret it."

The dialysis which had been proceeding smoothly for three months suddenly became very painful. "The doctors decided to investigate. They put me through a Barium Meal test." The result made even the doctors unhappy. "They just did not know how to break the news to me. First I had undergone renal failure, then I had a cardiac problem and now, they had found a malignant tumour in the colon. But I was ready to face it. I wanted to have it removed as soon as possible and chose Chennai since my brother had undergone his operation there. (Colon cancer is often hereditary and his father too had been affected.) But my doctor had to go abroad and I was operated by Dr. M. G. Bhatt of the Manipal Hospital."

The operation was successful but he began to suffer persistent bouts of fever. Finally, anti-tuberculosis treatment helped get rid of the fever. "But I was uncomfortable with so much potent medicine being pumped into my system. The sad part of the malignancy was that I could not have a transplant for two years as the medicines might aggravate the growth. So, I had to continue with dialysis."

Every alternate day he went through the painful procedure choosing the 5.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. slot so that he could carry on with his routine activities for the day. "Since I had a few assignments abroad, I decided to go in for peritoneal dialysis rather than the hemodialysis I was undergoing. Peritoneal dialysis is self-administered. My wife helped me out and I had to go through it three times a day - morning, afternoon and night - with each session lasting 20 minutes. After six months I developed an infection and had to return to hemodialysis." In March 2000 he decided to have the transplant done. "My wife wanted to donate her kidney but neither hers nor any other close relative's matched mine. Finally, a distant relative's kidney was found suitable and I underwent the transplant. Since then I have had no problem at all and everything is fine. The common impression is that once the kidneys fail, normal life is over and people become dispirited. But I have been able to lead an active life. Despite kidney failure, heart problems and cancer, I have been able to carry on full steam."

Capt. Mani's optimism and courage made such an impression on the doctors, especially Dr. Ballal, that they began to recommend patients with renal failure to him for counselling. "When kidney failure occurs, people get very depressed. They are affected both emotionally and financially. Many turn to alternative medicine, when in fact it worsens the situation. Usually, people only talk about life after a heart attack, few focus on life after a transplant," says Capt. Mani "My wife and I began counselling patients and their families on the problems that follow in the wake of renal failure. The expenses, for one, Rs. 10,000 to 12,000 a month on an average for 12 hours of dialysis, and the countless questions relating to health and activity."

Dr. Ballal suggested that he set up a support group. Apart from counselling, a range of services is in the process of being organised. A trust, Foundation for Organ Retrieval and Transplant Education (FORTE), comprising doctors, retired judges and other professionals has been set up for those who need transplant.

"A woman whose husband had died of kidney failure has come forward to contribute Rs. 30 lakhs. If I can get a matching grant from the Rotary Foundation, we can buy dialysis machines so that it can be offered at concessional rates to the poor," says Capt. Mani.

A cardiac attack may mean only a one time operation but kidney failure is a problem that needs to be continually addressed, so such reaching out is vital, says Capt. Mani. He credits his employers and his family for enabling him overcome setbacks that would surely have dented the cheer of a less strong minded and optimistic person.

But how many of us learn to convert disadvantages into strengths, not only triumphing over the knocks that life deals us but also enabling others to overcome tribulations through our painful experiences? The smile that lights up Capt. Mani's face constantly tells us more about his spirit and personality than an hour long interview.

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