http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=02235
Patient in Cottage Hospital for 8 yrs by Sudesh Bhosle Vasco, Feb 22 Any patient young or old wants to get out of the hospital as fast as he can. But imagine a case where a patient is in the hospital for eight long years and is enjoying it too! Such is the case of 68-year-old, Mr Mohan Naik of Chircun-Udi, Belabaim, Vasco, who is undergoing treatment at the Cottage Hospital, at Chicalim, for eight years. Mr Naik has been an employee of the agriculture department till his retirement. He had been referred to the cottage hospital first for high diabetes, and if that was not enough, he has been diagnosed to have a non-healing ulcer. Speaking exclusively to 'The Navhind Times', Mr Naik said that the Cottage Hospital at Chicalim has become a permanent residence for him and that all the employees are like his family members. "I was employed in the agriculture department and soon after retirement, I was struck by the disease," informed Mr Naik and said that he has become very close to the hospital staff. Mr Naik also suffers from an eyesight problem. "The hospital staff, nurses and doctors at the Cottage Hospital have been very cooperative with me in my times of distress," he says. The non-healing ulcer has taken its toll on him with his left leg continuously bandaged. His walk too has been affected. Mr Naik informed that his family comprises his wife, two daughters and a son and all of whom are residing at Chircun-Udi, Belabaim. "I go to my house whenever I feel like it, but am back `home' after a couple of hours," Mr Naik says. "Earlier, my family use to get home cooked food for me," said Mr Naik and added that now after so many years he has got accustomed to eating hospital food which he relishes. Getting a bit emotional, he says, "I cannot think of going away from the hospital and even cannot forget the employees, since this has become my permanent residence." Mr Naik had been referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim by the nurses and doctors of Cottage Hospital. "He has become a like life-member of the hospital," a nurse at the hospital said.
