Second Go is a first-hand account of a liver transplant recipient’s journey in India. The book is written by Radhika Sachdev and published by FingerPrint.
Blurb
Penned in real time, from the hospital bed while battling for life, on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone’s 4*2 inch keypad, the only device allowed to the patient in her super-sanitized recuperating room, this book follows a hybrid format of medico-psycho thriller, interspersed with SMS chats, transcripts of medical records, and other workings of an addled mind overcome by sickness, yet determined to pull through.
It is a first-hand account of a liver transplant recipient’s journey in India, chronicled from the patient’s perspective in vivid detail as a series of dramatic events unfold in her life, completing the cycle from sickness to health, despair to hope.
It also tells the story of a single mom and breadwinner of the family, her strong bonding with her adoptive daughter, and her family and friends support.
The author hopes that this book will give courage and direction to other patients whose lives are hanging by a thread, patients awaiting a life-saving cadaveric organ donation.
Plot
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After putting the book down, I saluted the determination, perseverance of Radhika Sachdev. Before reading her account, I was totally unaware of the complexities that involve liver transplant. This book acted as an eye-opener, about Indian medical environment. The account beautifully portrays the monetary, psychological, emotional and physical toll, such life-threatening medical conditions have on the family members. Radhika also showcases the bond, which she shares with her adoptive daughter Arzoo.
Radhika had Hepatitis C, she completed the drug therapy but her hepatologist discovered a tumor in the MRI report. The only option left for Radhika was to look for a liver transplant. It was not as easy as it sounds, it was an uphill journey. She had to clear the battery of tests and loads of wishes to get a second chance to live. The best thing I like about her writing is her eye for detailing. She has given detailed medical costs which are involved in a transplant. She has also shared organ transplantation rules in India, this book is a quiet handful for all the patients who are looking for some or other transplant.
The biggest achievement of Radhika is creating awareness around organ donation. As a country, we need to destroy the myths around death, afterlife and organ donation. Somewhere we need to understand, giving new life to a patient is more important than burying a dead body with all the organs intact.
She has supported the book with many annexures, in one of the annexures, we can find details of the trust that provide financial help to organ transplant patients.
Why read the book
- Awareness around organ transplant.
- Awareness around organ donation.
- Easy/smooth flow of the story.
- The human touch in the story.
