Pramod Jashbhai Patel alias Narendrabhai was born in Mikindani, Tanganika on 13th May 1937. He was the only son of his beloved parents Jashbhai Motibhai Patel and Laxmiben Jashbhai Patel. He lost both his parents at a tender age of 24 in a car accident. He came to UK on 28th June 1975 with wife, 2 sons and niece.
Initially he started his career in the post office and also worked part time in a factory in Gidea Park. In June 1979 he and his wife Vimlaben invested their savings in a convenience store in Hainault, which is running still today. When he was 42, he had some dental problem and visited his dentist cousin Raguvir for a general check up. During the check up some “white spots” were noticed inside the top pallet of his mouth.
This is where “a remarkable journey of a remarkable man Pramod’s” life began and his message to everyone is “you are in control of your own destiny. Be active, be positive, be strong, no matter what difficulties or challenges you face, You can do it.”
In 1980 he was diagnosed with cancer of the mouth (upper pallet) as a result of which he underwent the normal treatments of cancer. The main reason for this was his bad habit of eating beetle nut (sopari). Like all cancer treatments he had faced difficulties and had his good as well as bad days. Eating normally became a thing of the past as he was struggling to swallow solid food items and anything spicy became a severe burden. After being on drips for months in January 1980 his daily diet were broccoli, sprouts and cauliflower with no spice or salt and boiled to a point that it was soft enough for him being able to swallow gently without any discomfort.
Once he mentioned to his wife, “You know how much I love my food” but from tomorrow I will have to start all over again afresh and will have to get used to my new diet.” His dreams were shattered, hopes broken, efforts baffled. He continued without complaint eating the same food 3 times a day for over 30 years. “This is will power.”
Restricted to this diet it was difficult for him to participate during festive seasons, family outings and all he did was sit in one corner happily watching everyone enjoying themselves. His normal treatments continued over the years, he has had his ups and downs, however, being Pramod he just got on with his daily routine and never grumbled or deplored.
He continued running the business with his wife for the next 30 years and managed all the challenges of running a business, waking up at 4 am for paper rounds, dealing with customers and suppliers, going to cash and carry etc. As he aged and continued his yearly treatments he slowly started to loose his voice and holding a conversation became very difficult. Thirty one years passed on the same diet and as a result the Oesophagus, the long, round 25 cm muscular tube that connects our mouth to our stomach, became hard and solid and was not flexible enough to squeeze together. During swallowing the walls of the oesophagus squeeze together (contract) and move the food down the oesophagus to the stomach.
This made eating very difficult and painful and the food instead of being directed to the stomach it started coming out of the nose and some ended up inside the lungs. This made him very ill and was yet again put on drips for months.
After various consultations and biopsy tests it was decided that the only option was 'nil by mouth' i.e. no more food to enter the mouth and it was concluded that he would now need to feed by means of a “a peg inserted directly into the stomach.” Since 2011, for the last 7 years he has been on an only “liquid diet.” He has 3 feed a day as follows:
Every morning at around 6 am he has a full glass of water injected directly into the stomach by means of the syringe, which he inserts into his stomach via a permanent, peg. At around 8 am he has a 250 ml bottle of special nutrient milk followed by another glass of water.
At around 5.30 pm he sets up his feed for the evening by attaching a 1000 ml packet of the same nutrient milk to a mobile hand held machine that he can carry with him and the machine drip feeds the liquid contents for the next 12 hours while he is asleep. Initially the peg caused a lot of problems when it use to pull out and get detached hence ending up spending hours in A & E rooms. However, today all the doctors and nurses are fully acquainted with him.
Once a month he has to have the peg changed and replaced and he insists on going alone taking the bus to go to Queens Hospital in Romford. On 20th October 2014 he lost his wife, his lifetime partner who was always been by his side. Today the business is run by his younger son and his daughter- in- law. However, everyday without fail you will find Pramod aged 82 running the shop from 10 am to 12.30 pm, all customers are now used to his style of serving “conversation by means of pen and paper only”.
You have to admire this remarkable man, his determination and will to live and get on with life without mourning and complaining. He is one of a kind and those people out there who are going through cancer treatments should be positive and take a note of the journey Pramod has been through over the last 40 year and is still going strong at 82. Recently, he fell down on the pavement while returning from a visit to the hospital. Despite severe injuries in his face, he picked himself up and went to the hospital again to get himself treated. This is the willpower and determination of Pramod.
Following is a poem written by his eldest son dedicated to his remarkable father:
Remarkable people don’t mourn, weep and cry
They try to rebuilt their dreams
Remarkable people don’t give up
They live up to the challenges that life throws at them
Remarkable people don’t go through
They grow through the difficulties that come on their path
Remarkable people are survivors
With remarkable grit
With remarkable hope &
With remarkable determination
And that is why 40 years later he is here today; when most people in his position would have given up a long time ago.
Dr Dak Patel FCCA
