Ups and Downs: Some random reflections ……Dr Suriyakanthi Amarasekera
November 2020
My special birthday
A joint 75th Birthday bash (mine was on the 4th and hubby Mahendra on the 9th) was held at home last year with about 100 guests We started with a thanksgiving service and had a lovely time. J C proposed the Toast. Our son Sean sang "Love changes everything”, and the bublets gave a delightful rendering of " So long. Farewell. ...": I was so sorry that of the many Batchmates invited, only Sura and J C, Swyrie, Lucky and Mangala and Chandra Silva were able to join us.
The Wijerama Oration
I recall with pride The Wijerama Oration in 2016. The title was “Meeting the challenge of Social Responsibility – The role of the SLMA”, Dr Suriyakanthie Amarasekera, Consultant Anaesthetist. The focus was on Tsunami Relief work.
Raising funds for disaster relief
In 2006, as the President SLMA, I was privileged to raise funds and able to set up a Scholarship for Children who had lost one or both parents through the Tsunami Disaster of Dec 2004. We started with 25 recipients and over the years helped 21 to complete their education. We have among them an IT degree holder from The University of Kelaniya, 2 Diploma holders in Graphic design, a Diploma holder in Hair and Beauty Culture, an AA T Diploma holder (an accepted 3 year. course qualification in Accountancy) and several who followed technical courses such as motor mechanics, Backhoe loader operators. All of them are gainfully employed. Some of course fell by the wayside and gave up their educational activities and ceased to be beneficiaries. One even eloped! We had invested the money collected and used only the interest generated (around Rs 50,000/- monthly) leaving the Capital intact.
When the Tragic Easter Sunday Bombing took place last year we had sufficient funds to initiate a Scholarship for 9 children who had lost one or both parents in the Zion Church in Batticaloa.
Of fractures and friendship
I fractured my
hip in 2018 and after a rough time, came through it fairly well with replacement
hip prosthesis. It was J C and Sura who encouraged and persuaded me to take a
break at a Hotel down South just 7 weeks
after Surgery. Without them, I would never have had the guts to go out. let alone
get into the pool. I was walking with the aid of a walking stick at that time. I
consider myself very fortunate and blessed to have such staunch and loving
friends.
There was a
posterior dislocation of my prosthetic hip and they did an M U A. I was
not allowed to walk at all for 2 weeks
and have been slowly ambulated and thank
God can now walk unaided (though rather
slowly) on flat ground. Have to wait for a
couple more weeks before climbing stairs.
But I must declare with heartfelt gratitude that Every day In Everyway I am getting better and better. I thank my God for the amazingly rapid healing and the strength
of mind, He has given me.
I am deeply saddened to hear about accidents that you have suffered .No wander that we did not see your contributions to the 1962 blogs.As you are a very religious person you will be well looked after from Heavenly bodies.I have heard about Guardian Angels looking after people in needs.b
ReplyDeleteThank you for your concern. Its a coincidence thatyou mention Guardian Angels.. When I was being transported to hospital my Sister in law who lives next door had informed her daughter about it.. When my niece started praying for me she had seen Angels surrounding me! If I was told that at the time I would definitely have concluded that they have come to take me home ! I must say that throughout that very painful journey I felt surrounded by love
DeleteHi Suri,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back!
I regret very much that I missed your inauguration as SLMA President and of course the Oration in 2016. I missed so many important events during the 13 years I was out of the country. That includes the Habarana Reunion of 2007. However, I sent you a congratulatory message from afar.
Your "Ups" (you have not included many)outnumber the "Downs". I hardly get about these days, because of my own illness and of course the Covid outbreak.
Hope you are back to normal.
Lucky
Thanks Lucky you have always been a loyal friend
DeleteHi Suri sorry to hear about your recent fall and your dislocation. I remember I was in SL during your last fall and the fractured hip and if my old age memory was right that fall to was related the leach from the dog. I hope your BP is back to normal. Remember our Lord is loving God and he will be there to bless you and bring healing to you. I don't know if and when I will be able to visit SL, let alone catching up with my friends back home but suggest you join into our batch Zoom sessions and catch up with your friends. God bless you and your family. Rajan ( Patas)
ReplyDeleteHi Patas Yes last time too my dog Sizzles was the guilty party he wanted to race me to the bedroom and dashed between my legs ! My BP is fine that was just the reaction to the severe pain. Yes I am well aware of how blessed we are to have a God who is our Strength and Shield.Yes I promise to be more in touch
DeleteHi Suri
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to hear from you after a long pause. Many congratulations to you and Mahendra on reaching that important milestone. Well done with your support for worthy causes and the achievements in the field of medicine.
You've been through the rapids in your health in recent times and I hope you will now get a well earned rest.
May God Bless you and do take care and stay safe.
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DeleteI must get to the bottom of this Nihal! From where I am looking, tops are On apart from JC (unless he is wearing a transparent one!}
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi Nihal Thank you for your good wishes .Can you remember our time at Kings College Hospital Denmark Hill way back in the late 70ties? You were Registrar in Radiology and I was working at the time as a Registrar having got my Fellowship Jan 1977 and waiting for my S R appointment which I got in 1978. One of my colleagues excitedly told me " We met your husband inn the Radiology Department! " I was confused for a short time cos I was sure that Mahendra had not gone to the KCH X ray Dept. I checked up and found they were referring to you. They just couldn't believe that two of us coming from the same country, having the same name were not connected. I found out from Mahendra that both of you were schoolmates at Wesley.
DeleteThe above Anonymous is Suri of course
DeleteSuri
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't that long ago when we were registrars at Kings College Hospital in Denmark Hill. I remember speaking with you on the endless corridors of the hospital which they reckoned were quarter of a mile long. There were times we met at the canteen for lunch. So pleased to note you have had a wonderful career in Sri Lanka.
I remember Dr MVP Peries' daughter was a registrar in Dermatology and wonder how life panned out for her.
Dear ND,
DeleteMy first job offer was for a locum SHO position in Cardiology at St Mary’s in London.Sadly I had to to decline ,as I would have had to find my own accommodation.This would have been impossible with no funds and absolutely no knowledge of London.I opted for a geriatric job in Essex ,which offered both board and lodging.It may have been all to the good as it provided ample time to study and attend teaching courses.The most useful was Dr Pappworth’s MRCP course;attended exclusively by overseas graduates.He told us bluntly,I’m not teaching you any medicine,but I will teach you how to pass the exam.Bora and I were colleagues in this early phase;the association was mutually beneficial and we were able to study jointly and compare notes from the lectures.Now postgraduate training for SL graduates is much better organised.We have had several in our own institution and they have brought credit to our country.
My father knew Prof MVP well and once referred him to RP J for a consultation.They were both outstanding in their own way.
Dear Kumar
DeleteI remember those early days in London when money was short as the days. The winters were long, hard and snowy. I went to those M.H Pappworth's classes in central London. His 'Primer of Medicine' was full of gems on how to pass the exam. He taught me to speak up while presenting. There was plenty of good humour at the course too. He had a go at the huge Egyptian contingent, in a nice sort of way. It was a unique experience to be there. Being a maverick tutor the British medical establishment didnt take kindly to him. He finally was made FRCP the year before he died. Glad to say I passed. May his Soul RIP.
Nihal,Prof MVP's daughter ended up as a Consultant Dermatologist at Walsgrave hospital, Coventry
ReplyDeleteShe was married to a Dermatologist in the same hospital.I have met her, but was not my cup of tea.She must be enjoying the retirement. By
Refreshingly frank as usual Sumathi. Sandra is indeed a Dermatologist and I have met her a few times and even had a cup of tea with her!
DeleteHi! Speedy. Name Sandra had evaporated from my memory a long time ago. I knew that she had her higher training(SR) in Royal Liverpool hospital, when DAGO(DA Gunawardhana)was a Consultant Dermatologist.
DeleteYou might have met him while in Kandy, where he was a Consultant Dermatologist, where he fancied teaching Medicine instead of Dermatology to Medicos. This is anecdotal evidence. Birds of a feather flock together(Consultants move in the circle of Consultants).We podiens(small people) have no place among the prestige class.
Hi Sumathy
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information. I didnt know her very well to call her my friend. MVP Peiris was a big name in surgery just before our time in med school. He had a huge private practice and became a household name. I think his wife was British. The daughter seemed a quiet girl. Perhaps Suri may have got to know her better than me.
Hi!Nihal,
DeleteProf MVP's house was next to the Chinese Embassy and Antho's house was also situated nearby. I have forgotten the name of the road that led to Kollupitiya from the Town Hall. I must have ridden my cycle thousand times down that road going to the British Library.
I have heard that your septic tonsils were guillotined by MVP. That was the time when Surgeons were able to chop anything under the sun with basic amenities. There must have been several surgical adventures, no one dared to challenge. Most of them were like jungle Surgeons who operated wounded in the battle fields.
The reason why I did not like the daughter resulted from an incident that took place in a Dermatological meeting, held in Birmingham. I did couple of sessions in Dermatology in Skin hospital and then in the City hospital, Birmingham. It is something confidential and private and I do not want the wash some ones dirty linen in public. Daughter was married to an Englishman and he too worked in the same hospital as a Dermatologist.When some is a Consultant,he or she becomes a different person. I have seen this among the Asian community.
Do you refer to the road from Eye hospital to Liberty Cinema which was called Turrett Road then but I think it is Bauddhaloka Mawatha now. Jeewaka Hostel was opposite Liberty Cinema and that was my path to the GHC in those happy days.
DeleteYou are absolutely correct. Jeewaka hostel was at the end of the road. nearby, where you spend your final year?MVP had his name board as Maha Archaryya, in Sinhalese.I have not forgotten the name to this day. Name change took place while I was in Sri Lanka.
DeleteIt was a pleasure to post Suri's post. As readers can see, it is all about achievement, pride in family and love and loyalty to friends, guided and influenced by her deep and abiding faith in her religion. Could I refer readers to my Speedy Interview for more about Suri.
ReplyDeletehttps://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-speedy-virtual-interview-series.html#comment-form
Hi Suri
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your fall and glad that you are on the road to recovery.About three years ago I slipped and fell down on the golf course,ended up fracturing the lower end of the Tibia and Fibula.Took me several months to get back to normal.
Vitamin D level was low.
I participated in the SLMA sessions when you were President.Still remember Prof Carlo's amusing speech as chief guest at the banquet.Also recall coming to your place in Dehiwela for dinner at the time of the sessions ,enjoyed the delicious food and singing CT's golden oldies.
Make Vitamin D while sun shines. There is sun light 365 days of the year in Sri Lanka and I would recommend go out and allow the body to start the initial process of Vit D synthesis. In Northern hemisphere countries sun light with sufficient UV last only from March to October and people have very little exposure to UV light. We, with dark skin needs over one hour of exposure to have the maximum effect. I am sure every one knows about these simple things. Hope! I am not teaching our readers' grandmothers to suck eggs. I am sure 80% of Vitamin D from sunlight and the remaining 20% from food. One has to have a fatty meal to absorb Vit D from food sources and supplements.
ReplyDeleteHi Bora You are one batchmate that I have been able to keep in touch and actually meet face to face on a regular basis because Harshi has been actively involved with the Col of Anaesthesiologists of Sri Lanka
DeleteI was so happy that many of my batchmates were resource persons at the SS of the SLMA in 2006 when I was President. No I was NOT amused by Carlo's speech when he referred to the first time he saw me when I was running around without a stitch on without mentioning that I was only about 1 1/2 to 2 yrs old at the time,. I was so embarrassed as Dame Diedrie Hine President BMA who was the Chief Guest at the Sessions looked questioningly at me. I kept muttering I am going to kill him , much to the amusement of her husband who was sitting next to me at the high table.
We did have a good time didn't we. I also remember your younger bro coming to our home for Sinhala tution from mu father who was on the tutorial staff at STC Mt Lavinia
Suri
Sumathy
ReplyDeleteYou are just being a good GP doling out helpful advice. Old habits die hard. Keep it up Sumathy we need reminders from time to time. Having been a Radiologist looking at images I've forgotten the basics of medicine. Lockdown brings out the best in us. Take care
Thank you, Nihal, you are a good soul. I have ups and downs in life during my life in Sri lanka and the new life in UK. There is no grudge or hatred towards the people who set hurdles over the years. Now, in my retirement, I enjoy reading, gardening regular mobility and balancing exercises. There are a lot in the You Tube and they are really good for all who wants to maintain muscle strength and balance. We need that to prevent fall.
ReplyDeleteDear Friends,although we enjoy sunlight 365 days of the year in Sri Lanka, research studies have revealed that Sri Lankans have low levels of Vitamin D in the serum. For the past several years I have been taking 2000 IU of Vitamin D daily. I would strongly advise others to do so as well
ReplyDeleteLama, problem in Vit D deficiency in SriLanka could be multifactorial.Avoiding exposure to sunlight, kidney disease where final convertion takes place to 1:25hydroxycholecalciferol takes place.Dietary contribution is only 20% and that has to be absorbed and conversion has to take place in the kidneys.
ReplyDeleteLama and Sumathi, I have read that people with dark pigmented skin do not synthesize Vitamin D efficiently on exposure to sunlight. That could be why we have low levels of Vitamin D.
DeleteLama, have you thought about doing a survey of vitamin D level of University students in Rajarata Vs school children in the same area You might get funds from WHO.
ReplyDeleteSumathi, excellent idea but who will fund it?The test is rather expensive
ReplyDeleteYes.Lamq,tests are expensive and GPs are reluctant to order them routinely,in UK.My wife had a mysterious shoulder girdle pain and weakness.She had physiotherapy with little improvement.Our clever GP requested a blood test for Fit D status and had a surprise.Her D level was very low and had a course of loading dose and regular take.The symptoms disappeared in no time.Unfortunate,she does not enjoyed the sun during the time in shines.If you are lucky enough.a drug company may find the research.I wish you succeed in your endeavour.
ReplyDeleteDear Suri,
ReplyDeleteApologies for the much delayed response.I’m fighting demons of my own.
I was very impressed by the style and contents of your “Ups and Downs”,The style ,matter of fact,reminiscent of a scientific paper rather than the flamboyance of a personal odyssey.
The contents of course were engrossing.
You were the youngest and one of the brightest in our year and have fulfilled in ample measure, the early promise.Your achievements ,through the SLMA for the underprivileged are truly outstanding.
Kanthi and I were saddened by your orthopaedic travails.But the good you have done to thousands of patients with skill and kindness would have rewarded you with a speedy and complete recovery.That is what we call Good Karma.
As I perused your account,I could not help but remember our journeys in the red double decker buses from Dehiwala to to the Eye Hospital junction in the company of late Desmond, Senarat and many other congenial companions.Also your brother who was my classmate at STC and your mother a well respected teacher in the lower school.
Kanthi and I wish you,Hubby and the charming family, the very best for the ensuing years and decades.
Bienvenue, Kumar,
DeleteIt is better to be late than be dead on time.
Suri has shone like the rising sun(Suriyakanthi)in her academic carrier.
Her kindness(Karuna) glittered like a gem(ratna) among Medical circles, in her dealing with patients and the needy.
Name will remain immortal(Amara).
These statements are serious stuff and not jokes.
Bienvenue, Kumar,
DeleteIt is better to be late than be dead on time.
Suri has shone like the rising sun(Suriyakanthi)in her academic carrier.
Her kindness(Karuna) glittered like a gem(ratna) among Medical circles, in her dealing with patients and the needy.
Name will remain immortal(Amara).
These statements are serious stuff and not jokes.
Very clever, Sumathi!
DeleteMVP's daughter Sandra, was a few years junior to us and when she came for the paediatric clinical examination, I was a lecturer and had to allocate the patients to the camdidates. She was given a case of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and told that the patient has difficulty in walking. However for some reason,she did not put the cot side railing down and did not ask the patiennt to walk. Later on Mrs MVP had complined to Stella de Silva that i had allocated a difficult case for her!
ReplyDeleteI have heard that MVP could draw with both hands at the same time on the blackboard. He was Antho's immediate neighbour down Dharmapala Mawatha, formerly called Turret Road. He was a Minister of Health as well.
Thanks,Lama for the information Our medical examiners were influenced by the powerful clans in the society.Hope,Priyani had told MVP that his daughter was not up to the standard required to pass.
DeleteSumathi, I don't think Sandra Peiris failed in Paediatrics. I have never been influenced by the family background of students. In fact the vast majority of students I taught at Ruhuna were from rural areas and it is the same with the Rajarata students whom I am teaching at present.
ReplyDeleteSumathi, Sandra Peiris did not fail in Paediatrics. I have never being influenced by the family background of students. In Colombo there were
ReplyDeletemany students from affluent families In fact the vast majority of students whom I taught at Ruhuna were from rural areas and it is the same with the Rajarata students whom I am teaching at present.
I didn't mean that you have favoured any one.You might have heard about DrSandarasagara tried to influence Prof Rajasuriya on his son's behalf.Young Sandarasagara was alleged to have spitted Prof and there was a big haho.You may know the full facts&the outcome.I have full respect for your honesty &intergrety.
ReplyDeleteProf Rajasuriya filed a case. Sandrasagara's defence was that as there was a drizzle at that time, some rain drops would have fallen on his face. As there were no eye witnesses ,Raj lost the case.
ReplyDeleteThanks,Lama.Prof disliked some Tamil students.My gut feeling was that poor Sandarasagara was innocent.With all respect to Prof,I accept that Prof had several weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteDear Sumathi,
ReplyDeleteYou are a linguist as well as a poet with the gift of humour.
Good on you as the Aussies say 👍👍
Hi, Kumar, thanks for the compliments.
DeleteSanath and Sumathi,
ReplyDeleteKanthi and I got to know Sandy jr and his wife Vasanthi well in UK.
In fact they stayed with us in Newcastle upon Tyne and we visited the beautiful Lake District.I stayed a weekend with him in Oxford where he was a cardiothorracic surgical registrar.He was such a nice guy and I couldn’t imagine him doing anything nasty.Of course I never brought up the topic.
He worked as a cardiothoracic surgeon in Malaysia for sometime.
Sanath, you may have taught Vasanthi.Kanthi and family knew her whole family who were their neighbors.They were also very good people and were sheltered by K’s parents during the ethnic disturbances of ‘83.
Towards the end of my internship Raj told me that Billimoria who was one of the registrars, wanted a reference from him because he had applied for a Commonwealth Scholarship,and he showed me the reference he had given. I was schocked to see what he had written," Dr B came to work with me on--- as a registrar and worked until---"! I protested about it and told Raj that he deserved a much better reference because he was the hardest worker among the three registrars(Others were Soma de Silva and H B Karunaratne). I don't think Raj changed the reference.However he won the scholarship to specialise in neurology.When he retuned from the UK, he was late by two weeks because he had broken journey in Bombay to visit his relatives. When he reported for work the DHS was Prof Raj who promptly gave him a vacation of post notice and B continued his journey Down Under. Few weeks later J B Peiris returned from the UK and was appointed as Neurologist to GHC.
ReplyDeleteLH Mettananda was a patient in a paying ward and he was terminally ill with cirrhosis of the liver. One week-end Raj wished to know who was on call and when I told him that I was on call, he was delighted most probably because Russell Paul was a Catholic. Raj requested me not to write cirrhosis of the liver as the cause of death in the death certificate most probably because Raj thought that Catholics would have taken advantage of it. I gave the caude of death as liver failure.
Mr Mettananda was a brilliant Principal at Ananda.Lucky knows better than me.Prof been an Anandian,he must have thout of not in labelling LHM as an alcoholic addictic.Primary cause of death should have been Hepato-cellular failure secondary to ethanol and other drug toxicity.You can excuse Prof for him kind thoughts.
ReplyDeleteProf Raj was an old Nalandian
ReplyDeleteI thought he went from Nalanda to Ananda.Luckly knows better than us
DeleteThere are few mistakes when using the Smart phone to contribute to the blog.
ReplyDeleteSuri,
ReplyDeleteI finally got around to reading about your "Ups and Downs!" You have accomplished a great deal. I really hope that your latest complication will heal well and you will be able to move normally by the time I see you again. Do take care of yourself.