Muslim Docs Healing Bal Thackeray

Dr Jalil Parkar and Dr Abdul Samad Ansari are in the team of doctors who are treating the ailing Shiv Sena boss at Lilavati Hospital

Dr Jalil Parkar and Dr Abdul Samad Ansari are in the team of doctors who are treating the ailing Shiv Sena boss at Lilavati Hospital

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray treats him like family. Yet, Dr Jalil Parkar, who is treating Thackeray at the Lilavati Hospital, is amazed by the octogenarian's wit despite his ailments. He tells MiD DAY about the strict disciplinarian that Thackeray is and his road to recovery.

How is Thackeray's health?
He is a lot better and in a conscious state. More importantly, he is not on ventilator. The oxygen levels are being maintained and his kidney and liver are functioning normally. He keeps asking what he can he eat and what he can't.

Dr Parkar says Thackeray treats him like family.

How is he coping with the illness?
He is coping well. He talks to his relatives and also asks us questions about his treatment. He is the wittiest person I have known. He makes me wonder how can he be so jovial even when he is unwell.

How is your equation with him?
I have been visiting him daily at Matoshree for the past four months in the afternoon. If he has any doubts, he calls me for clarifications on medicines. He treats me like family and his family too treats me as their own.

What do you think of him as a patient?
He is kind at heart and is a very caring and loving man. He treats everybody equally. He enquires about your well being if he finds something wrong and also offers help

Does he follow the doctors' advice?
He is a disciplinarian, but if you ask him to abide by something, you have to justify it to him. He will ask you the reasons for asking him to follow a particular regime.

Does it scare you when you treat such a renowned figure?
In case of an emergency, we are diligent and judicious with all patients. It is stressful when you treat patients in a critical state, but we maintain transparency with the patient in such cases.

What is Thackeray suffering from?
He is suffering from Ischaemic heart disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Why does this happen?
Patients who have undergone angioplasty or bypass surgeries suffer from Ischaemic heart disease. COPD is the result of chronic smoking.

How many days will he be kept under observation?
He will be kept under observation for three to five days.

Does he ask for any particular food or gadget?
He has his own food habits, but I cannot disclose that.

LCD TV, DVDs for company

It's not a privilege Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray would have liked to enjoy.

When Thackeray was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital's newly inaugurated VIP Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward on the sixth floor on Thursday, he became only the second distinguished person to avail of the ward facilities.

The cost of the ward is Rs 10,000 per day for bed charges alone.

"Thackeray can have his family by his side in the new VIP ward. This wasn't allowed in the earlier ICU ward. Thackeray's room also has an LCD TV and lots of DVDs," said a hospital source.

The ward has five beds.

Meanwhile, room 1101 on the 11th floor that was used by Amitabh Bachchan and his mother Teji earlier has been kept on standby for Thackeray once he shifts out of the ICU.