Friday, November 22, 2024

A mother’s mission impossible accomplished

Mothers are always special. Some stand out from others and make us realise that mothers are made in heaven. And a few of them turn out to be mother of all mothers. Shefali Iqbal is among the rare few.
It was about 30 minutes away from midnight in Bangkok. Shefali in her early fifties was running like a spring chicken to manage her still busy Bangladeshi food joint — Monika’s Kitchen. Clad in a simple salwar-kameez and with black headscarf, Shefali looked like any other ordinary woman in Bangladesh.
The mild glint in her wide eyes and a caring smile at corners of her mouth would hardly reveal her inner strength, the steely resolve that took her to Bangkok and made her wage an awe-inspiring battle to save the life of Naima Sultana Monika, her only daughter.
It all started on August 27, 2001 and with a gas cylinder explosion at the kitchen of their sprawling Tongi house. The fire left Monika, who just finished her master’s in sociology from Dhaka University, badly burnt and barely alive. Shefali was out with her film producer husband Mohammad Iqbal to run errands when the accident occurred. They rushed home, starting a long ordeal of the family of three.
Monika was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with an incredible 70 percent burn injury. Usually, doctors see little hopes of survival for patients with injuries 30 percent or beyond.
“I’m sorry, but you take mental preparation. She is not going to survive,” Iqbal yesterday recalled a Dr Sen telling him at DMCH upon examination on Monika, whose non-stop screaming with unexplainable pain had turned into a whimper by then.
She was all bandaged, and her parents kept her on her feet holding her hands tight. She was not allowed to lie down or free her hands from their grips, as it would aggravate the injuries.
Monika managed to cling on to her life without losing her consciousness or drifting off to sleep at a hospital that lacked an intensive care unit for burn patients and proper medicare. With odds heavily stacked against them, Shefali refused to say it’s over, inspiring her family to take Monika to Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok where, they were told, serious burn treatment could be possible.
But they could not get Monika aboard a Bangkok plane before September 17. Sitting at Monika’s Kitchen now, Shefali can still remember the 21 days of unbearable sufferings at DMCH — memories she wants to forget, all in vain though.
“I cannot forget a single moment of Monika’s struggle, her face contorting in severe pain,” Shefali told The Daily Star in Bangkok.
“How could I sleep?” she asked.
Hours, days dragged on. But she could not shut her eyes for sleep. “I dozed a little at times. But I had to stay up, holding hands of my baby.”
Though in dreadful pain, Monika had noticed how her simple Ma-Moni, as she called her mother, taking out the last ounce of her energy to keep her alive.
“My Ma-Moni stayed standing beside me for 21 days,” Monika told this correspondent in Dhaka yesterday. “She was tired so much so that once Ma-Moni dozed off while giving water to my mouth in a spoon.”
Monika returned to Bangladesh at the end of 2007 fully treated, but not before completing an MBA degree from the prestigious National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) in Thailand.
“Ma-Moni made all these possible,” said Monika, her voice thick with emotions. Shefali transformed herself from a simple housewife into an incredible woman to make an impossible possible in over half a decade in Thailand.
The moment they landed at Bangkok, the Bumrungrad authorities took over Monika’s charge. A special cabin was set up for her on the 10th floor to begin a prolong treatment. Medicare was not in short supply but it was too costly, forcing Monika’s father to fly home and arrange fresh fund. There were days when about 1 lakh bahts were spent a day.
Her dressing was changed regularly, peeling off the temporary skins. “They had to peel off the skins like a sacrificial animal during Eid. I used to shout at top of my voice, with my Ma-Moni holding me tight in a strong grip,” Monika recalled.
To save money, the parents used to do all possible austerities. They slept on hospital sofas for two and a half years, shared a single meal and skipped almost every necessary expense. But that was not enough to foot the astronomical medical bills.
However, Shefali soon became a well-known person among doctors, hospital staff and patients. Her never-say-over battle turned into the most-talked-about subject in the hospital arena. Everybody was willing to help her in one way or the other. She also became a source of inspiration for Bangladeshi patients there.
Three years drifted by. Monika was released from the hospital for a series of surgeries at Ramathibadi Hospital under Prof Vithi, who was the man behind the Monika miracle.
As life eased a little for Shefali, she started cooking for patients out of caring. But the fate planned something special for her this time. Soon Shefali’s cooking became popular among patients, encouraging her to open a catering of her own.
She started Monika’s Kitchen from her kitchen and soon she had to hire a space and workers to meet the growing demand.
Thai authorities too came forward to help her open business, granting a non-immigrant visa and permission for business. In the last few years, Shefali has become a successful entrepreneur and a role model for immigrants.
Back in Bangladesh, Monika is now working for Structural Engineering Limited in Dhaka. But Shefali still works round the clock in Bangkok. “I go to the market at 6:00am to buy groceries and work until 1 in the morning next day. I cannot go to sleep before 2:30am,” she said.
But she feels all too content of late, as her business could not only meet expense of Monika’s treatment but also her very costly study at NIDA. She knows it is time she wound up business and returned home.
With the world celebrating Mother’s Day today, the mother in Shefali too plans to call her mission over, real soon.

Original Article on The Daily Star

Related News

Runa Laila’s birthday celebrated

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com The 72nd birthday of legendary Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila was celebrated in Dhaka on Sunday. A celebrated artiste with over 10,000 songs in 18 languages, Runa Laila’s channel offers a mix of Bollywood hits, Bengali folk, and patriotic songs, cementing her legacy in the global music scene. She expressed gratitude for ... Read more

Dhaka International Folk Festival set to make its grand comeback

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com The Dhaka International Folk Festival is set to make a vibrant comeback in January 2025 after a five-year break, much to the delight of folk music lovers. The festival’s organizer Sun Communications Limited recently confirmed the dates and venue, stirring excitement among folk music enthusiasts. Scheduled to run from January 23 ... Read more

Singer Moni Kishore’s body recovered from Rampura flat

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Police recovered the body of singer Moni Kishore from a house in the capital’s Rampura area last night (19 October). Police recovered the body at about 11:30PM on Saturday from his house behind Rampura TV centre. Rampura Police Station SI Khan Abdur Rahman said, “At 10PM, owner of the house called ... Read more

Artcell celebrates 25 years on their milestone USA tour

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Iconic Bangladesh rock band Artcell is making waves across the United States. The Bangladeshi band is celebrating 25 years of their glorious music on tour. Today they’ll bring their high-energy performance to Denver, already causing a stir among fans as part of their anniversary tour. Artcell kicked off their US tour ... Read more

Shujeo Shyam passes away

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Renowned Ekushey Padak recipient and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste Shujeo Shyam has passed away. The acclaimed singer died while undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University hospital around 2:50 am on Friday. He was 78. His daughter Rupa Monjuri Shyam confirmed the news of his death to media. Sujeo ... Read more

Atif Aslam is returning to Dhaka in November

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Renowned Pakistani singer Atif Aslam, beloved by Bangladeshi fans, is set to return to Dhaka next month for another live performance. Known for several hits like “O Lamhe,” “Aadat,” and “Tu Jaane Na,” Atif has performed in Dhaka several times before, drawing massive crowds with each visit. The upcoming concert, titled ... Read more

Pakistani band Jal to perform in Dhaka on 27 September

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Popular Pakistani band Jal, who gave hit songs like ‘Adaat’ and ‘Sajni’, is coming to Bangladesh to entertain Bangladeshi audience. The band’s lead vocalist and guitarist Goher Mumtaz has confirmed their upcoming trip to Dhaka on his official Facebook page. He shared a concert photo on Friday on Facebook and wrote: ... Read more

Disney songwriter Richard M Sherman dies at 95

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Disney legend Richard M Sherman, who wrote songs for Disney film classics such as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has died aged 95 in Beverly Hills. Sherman partnered with his late brother Robert, and the pair won two Oscars in 1965 for their work on Mary Poppins. Disney announced ... Read more

‘Odd Signature’ vocalist Piyal killed in road accident

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com In an unfortunate turn of events, the car carrying members of the musical band Odd Signature met with a deadly accident in front of Dream Holiday Park in Panchdona, Narsingdi, while en route to Sylhet. Tragically, the driver, Salam, and one of the band members, Ahasan Tanvir Pial, lost their lives ... Read more

BTS’ Jungkook to release first solo album ‘Golden’

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com BigHit Music has announced the launch of BTS member Jung Kook’s debut solo album titled ‘GOLDEN.’ Inspired by his standout moments, the album is a tribute to Jung Kook’s journey both as BTS’s youngest member and as a solo artist. The album will drop on November 3, 2023. “Golden” will comprise ... Read more

Music video of ‘Aaij Kaail Aai Aile’ released

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Young singer Zahed Parvej Pabel released the music video of a song in the local dialect of Chattogram region titled Aaij Kaail Aai Aile on his official YouTube channel recently, said a press release. The song has been written and tuned by Sirajul Islam Azad. The music video has been directed ... Read more

Lucky Ali to perform in Dhaka next month

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Noted Indian singer, songwriter and actor Lucky Ali is set to perform live in Dhaka on 6 October. Buy Here Now made the announcement from their official Facebook page and said, “The curtains are up on the final pioneer – welcoming the timeless Lucky Ali Live in Dhaka on October 6th ... Read more

Florida Keys underwater music show promotes coral reef conservation

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Hundreds of divers and snorkelers took part in the event. Hundreds of divers and snorkelers have listened to an underwater concert that advocated coral reef protection in the Florida Keys. The Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, which also spotlighted eco-conscious diving, took place at Looe Key Reef, an area of the ... Read more

30 bands to feature performance at Dhaka Summer Con

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com The country’s biggest pop culture festival, Dhaka Summer Con 2023 will be held over three days from July 13-15 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital. 30 bands will perform on one stage at the first-ever Dhaka Summer Con to be held at Hall 3 and Hall 4 ... Read more

Madonna had to be ‘brought back from the dead’ using Narcan injection, sources claim

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Madonna was allegedly found unresponsive on Saturday, June 24, and had to be “brought back from the dead” by medical personnel. According to reports by Radar, the “Like a Virgin” singer was given a NARCAN injection to resuscitate her. NARCAN — also known as naxalone — is sometimes administered in emergency ... Read more

Madonna’s Celebration tour kickoff in jeopardy as pop icon is ‘weak’ from bacterial infection

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Madonna, the iconic pop sensation, was set to embark on her highly anticipated world tour in just 10 days. However, she is now facing uncertainty about whether to start her Celebration tour. Recent health updates about the songstress’ recovery from a severe bacterial infection suggest a challenging road ahead. According to ... Read more

Foo Fighters rock with Taylor Hawkins’ son Shane to drum onstage at Boston Calling

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Taylor Hawkins’ son Shane once again honoured his late father as Foo Fighters embark on their summer tour. On Friday, the 17-year-old joined the band onstage to perform their 1995 hit I’ll Stick Around during the band’s headlining performance at the Boston Calling music festival. Midway through the 20-song set, Foo ... Read more

Shams Ahmed won Emmy Award for Music Direction as first Bangladeshi-American

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com Music Director Shams Ahmed has become the first Bangladeshi-American to win an Emmy award for Music direction for a Super Bowl LVII piece, “Ragged old flag”, at the 44th Sport Emmys. Shams Ahmed announced the news on his Facebook along with his Emmy award. “To receive this award is an honor ... Read more

“Deora” sets records on YouTube, gains popularity globally

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com The fifth song from Coke Studio Bangla’s second season, “Deora,” debuted on May 7 and has since taken over YouTube. Surprisingly, the song racked up over 21 million views in just 11 days, breaking a record on the platform. The song “Bhaber Pagal” by Nigar Sumi and Jalali Set previously had ... Read more

Ticket price for Anuv Jain Live in Dhaka announced

Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com After much anticipation, “Anuv Jain Live in Dhaka” concert ticket prices have been announced through a joint statement by Adventure Communications and Triple Time Communications. The announcement was made through Adventor Communications official Facebook page Wednesday night (10 May). Triple Time Communications and Adventor Communications will jointly organise the event. “The ... Read more