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| Ernest Joseph, Federal Bank, Aluva |
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A few months ago, a cardiologist came as an invited guest to the finals of a shuttle badminton tournament in Thodupuzha. When he realized that one of the players, Ernest Joseph was pacemaker-enabled, he immediately left the place, claiming the he wouldn’t like to witness a death in the shuttle court. When he came back after some time to check if the player was still alive, he was pleasantly surprised to shake hands with one who had smashed fear out of his sight.
Ernest, an officer at the Federal Bank, was admitted at the Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi with an acute heart problem that let his heart beat just 20 times a minute. When the doctors recommended implanting the pace maker, Ernest had just one earnest appeal: the right hand is for holding the racket. Please do not plant the device on the right side of the chest. Although the default location of the device is the right side of chest, the doctors could not but heed the appeal of the patient.
After 3 months rest prescribed by the doctors, Earnest came back to the shuttle court, even taking part in tournaments. His debut with the pacemaker was in the P.S.G.Memorial All Kerala Shuttle Tournament, where he won the veterans’ doubles title. A repeat win in the tournament last year, the 2001 veteran singles title in the same tournament, a host of wins for Federal Bank etc soon followed.
And yet now his play is more guarded. He knows that any smash aimed at the pacemaker could be fatal. Though he uses the racket and the left hand as shields, he relies more on the constant prayers of his wife Basy.
Earnest is suffering from an ailment that affects 1 in 75,000. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that his courage and self-confidence are things that not even 1 in 1,000,000 possesses.
Courtesy: Vinu Joseph, Sree, Malayala Manorama, November 23, 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
