Saving Hollis Hawthorne

Saving Hollis Hawthorne On 25th Feb. 2009 I was traveling from Mayiladuthurai to Chidambaram. Our bus stopped on Kollidam bridge. I looked out to see why we have stopped. I could see a pair of legs some 30 feet in front of our bus and a few people standing around the accident spot. I rushed there and I saw a white male doing CPR to the victim, a white girl. In the middle of the road I saw a motorcycle lying down and a helmet was beside it in a pool of blood. The right ear of the girl was torn nearly into two. I asked the man if they need water to drink. "No, She will choke", he said. Immediately I dialed 108 to call the ambulance. I was told the ambulance service was not available at that place, instead they noted my mobile number. They called me again and said the police station nearby was alerted and they will come for help. Time was running out. Mr Hariharan, an MBA student of Sastra University came to help along with a few local people. We searched for a vehicle. It was like a typical Tamil movie. I ran to the vehicles standing there and was literally begging for help to each and every vehicle driver. Almost all were with passengers. I even requested the driver of a goods carrier vehicle TATA Ace, for it was empty, to drop the victim in the near by hospital. I got only negative answers. Anger welled inside me as I looked at these callous people. Then I approached a Tempo Traveler with foreign visitors and explained the situation. Fortunately they came forward to help us and we lifted the girl and placed her inside the vehicle and we rushed to the nearby hospital. The doctor asked us to rush to Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University at Chidambaram a place nearly 15 kilometers from there. He administered an injection and checked her. I was having only Rs. 200 and I gave Rs. 125 for the medicine. The doctor urged us to get a car to move the girl to Annamalai University, my place of work. A local person helped me an we went to the taxi stand to get a taxi, an Ambassador car. I told the driver that I have only fifty rupees in my pocket and I promised him that I will pay him after reaching Chidambaram taking cash from ATM. He asked if I am a relative to the victim. I said, No. And urged him not to worry about police case etc. Fortunately he came foreward to take us. The cab driver Mr. Ramesh and I went to the hospital and lifted the girl to the car. Both the foreigners were on the back seat while Hariharan and I seated in the front. Thanking the local people for their help we left. On reaching the accident spot we stopped to get the baggage of the two. We put every thing in the back and rushed to Annamalai University. We got introduced to each other. His name was Harrison and girl was Hollis. They were from Sanfrancisco, USA. Harrison was pretty much shaken by the unfortunate accident. And because of CPR Hollis started to breath on her own. I called my professor Dr. J. Vasanthakumar and asked his help. Immediately he send two people to the hospital to help us. The Sub Inspector called me and asked our whereabouts. I replied that we are on the way to Medical college and he informed me that he will also come to Chidambaram for enquiry. We went to the casuality ward and the doctors took over. The Sub Inspector came there within a few minutes. I borrowed Rs. 1000 from my teacher Dr. P. Tholkappian to settle the taxi. To my pleasant surprise the cab driver

Ramesh refused the payment saying that the Sub-Inspector paid Rs. 300 for the trip. I asked if the money was sufficient or not? He said it was enough and we thanked him for his help. Hariharan went to get the baggage of Hollis and Medical Superintendent. He asked if we need the to JIPMER, Puducherry and who will sign for the ambulance? I informed him that I was a Lecturer Faculty of Agriculture and that i will take the

Harrison while I went to see the ambulance facility to shift Hollis responsibility of paying the in Genetics & Plant Breeding, responsibility.

The doctors started to suture the torn ears of Hollis. I filled the forms for the ambulance and I was informed that it will cost Rs. 10,000 for the ambulance. I asked Harrison if he can pay the amount. Harrison said he had Rs.6000 in Cash and remaining in dollars. Usually the ambulance will be brought only after the payment was made in advance. Being a teaching faculty there, I assured them about the payment and asked them to rush up. Hollis and Harrison was directed to JIPMER, Pondicherry. Harrison got our address and thanked us for our help. We told him that Hollis will recover for sure and asked him not to worry and that we will pray for her recovery. Later on that day I was called by the ambulance driver and people from our medical college. I was told that Harrison payed Rs. 6000 only and that he was shortage of money. I assured them that I will pay the remaining amount and asked the driver to come back. I was asked to meet the Medical Superintendent Mr. Viswanathan the next day. He asked me about the accident and magnanimously waived the remaining fees for the ambulance. I thanked him and left. I could not contact Harrison again. A week later Harrison called and informed me that Hollis was in coma and that she will be shifted to Apollo Hospital, Chennai within two days. He also told me that he intend to shift Hollis to Stanford Medical College, one of the best institute in the world. He told me that he want to give the best treatment to Hollis. "I want to give her the best treatment in the world" he said. I assured him that Hollis will recover fully and that all my family members will be praying for her well being. Two days later when I was busy in the National Seminar organised by our Department, my friend Muthuselvam called and informed that Hollis was stable and was breathing on her own and asked me to see The Hindu, Mar 06, 2009. A happy news indeed it was to me. I called my wife immediately and informed her also.