“My life has been full of tragedies, and I have stumbled along the way. Just as I was trying to get back on my feet, another tragedy struck. I felt like my life was being woven from fragile rice straw.'' Renee Marcos, 82, a gynecologist at Paret Mar Ivanios Hospital in Puthupalli, Kottayam, became emotional and choked up.
Her life was full of ups and downs. Renee had to get married when she was studying in 11th standard and her dream of becoming a doctor sprouted. She lost her husband and daughter at the age of 25.
The life story of Lenny, a gynecologist, is a source of inspiration for those who feel frustrated in life.
Happy childhood and crossroads
Rennie was born in 1941 to Captain MM Ninan, an officer in the British Indian Army, and Mary, the youngest of nine children. She lived her dream life till 10th standard. She had written her own name Dr. Rennie on the pages of her books even when she was studying in her 8th standard. Meanwhile, Captain Ninan, who fought for Britain in World War I and World War II, retired and settled in Malaysia. Renee was studying in 10th standard at the time.
After Ninan's health deteriorated, Mary had to go to Malaysia to take care of her husband. The boys were sent to a hostel, but her parents did not want to send Renee to boarding school. Renee was keen to continue her studies, but midway through her 10th grade, her ambition to become a doctor suffered her first setback. Renee was tired of crying and clung to her mother's hand as she set sail for Malaysia, but little did she know that this was the beginning of tragedy to come in her life.
Living in Malaysia and returning home
On reaching there, school authorities refused admission to international students who studied in Malayalam. However, after constant efforts, she was able to pass her entrance exam. Lenny passed her exams, where she studied up to higher secondary education. However, before her first year exams, another tragedy awaited her. Her father's illness worsened and her family had to return to India. But this time she insisted that Lenny should finish her studies.
Ninan and Mary returned home, leaving Lennie with his sister. Despite her pain of parting with her parents, she took joy in her prospect of being able to complete her studies. However, her happiness did not last long. Ninan died soon after arriving home. Mary, depressed over her husband's death, took Lennie back to her home. A new crossroads awaits Renee, she is unable to complete her studies and she has to drop out.
across the aisle
Returning home, Mary found a groom for 18-year-old Lennie. He was the brother of Matthew John (Sankachan), the husband of Lennie's sister Maggie. Matthew worked as a surveyor in Tanzania. Mary promised her marriage, assuming that her relationship with a known family would be safe for her daughter. Renee cried as much as she could and requested that she complete her 12th standard. But no one listened to her pleas. Renee married Matthew in 1961 and went to Tanzania with her husband soon after her marriage. A happy married life awaited her there.
A happy life was cut short
Their second daughter, Melitta, was born when their first daughter, Gretta, was one and a half years old. A happy life continued in Tanzania with her children and husband. However, that happiness did not last long. Melitta, who contracted cerebral malaria, passed away on her first birthday. Months passed and life with Gretta and Matthew returned to normal, but Renee was still grieving the loss of her daughter. Just two years later, another tragedy struck her like a bolt from the blue. Matthew died in a car accident on his way to his girlfriend's job.
Days of ridicule and survival
Renee describes how she survived the rest of her life:
“I became a widow at the age of 25 and moved back home with my four-and-a-half-year-old daughter. The death of my daughter and husband left me very depressed. After my husband’s death, all I had was the Tanzanian government. At that time, I also faced the scorn of being a widow. Everyone shunned me on auspicious occasions and special days. Even family photos included my There was no place for me. There was pressure to remarry, but I resisted because I wanted to raise my only daughter, Gretta, well. I needed a job to stand on my own two feet. This motivated me to study. Against the wishes of my relatives and siblings, in 1970, at the age of 28, I enrolled in a pre-degree course at Marthoma College, Thiruvalla, on the grounds that I could stay and study with my mother. , I entered the university there. During the exam, my mother passed away.
“The period before my degree was not easy for me. Coming back after being away from the world of books for 10 years made it difficult to learn. I had the responsibility of taking care of my mother. Because of this, Gretta had to move to a boarding school with her sister's children. I had to wake up early in the morning to look after my mother and go to school. As a result, I My school attendance declined. However, when the authorities were informed of the situation, I received special permission to write the exam. However, tragedy struck again with my mother dying three weeks before the exam. It happened. I suffered even more. Still, I was not ready to give up. My uncle came forward to take care of us. I stayed at my uncle's house and went through difficult times. I won the university's skills award, which is given to the best student of the year.''
Poetic justice reserved by time
I kept my dream of becoming a doctor alive and studied even without sleeping. After hard work day and night, in 1972, at the age of 30, I won admission to his MBBS course at his CMC Medical College in Vellore. I had no place for Gretta. When the hospital authorities learned about this, they allowed me to rent a house off campus and attend classes. So, I went to Vellore with my teenage daughter. It was a huge financial burden. I bought old books by my seniors and studied them. Gretta and I's studies went well. However, as I was doing so, I noticed that the lump in my chest was growing larger. It can become cancerous if not removed as soon as possible. It was Gretta who signed the consent form for the surgery and took care of me. Every step of the way, we just supported each other. We studied together and grew together. In 1978, when I completed my MBBS and Home Surgery from Vellore CMC, Gretta also joined the same college in the same year for her MBBS course.
life has better days ahead
“I was posted as a doctor at CSI Hospital in Kodukranji, Chengannur. There I met Dr. MM Marcos (Sunny), who was the medical superintendent of the hospital. I lived with my three sons. Their names were Rajeev, Abu, and Aku. I often thought that those children really needed a mother. Loneliness has the same effect everywhere. So in 1980 I remarried in 2007 at the age of 39. I only agreed to the marriage after I told Sunny that I wanted to pursue a medical degree. I had to listen to the statement.
never-ending battle
Renee did her DGO and MD courses in Gynecology from CMC Medical College, Vellore. Meanwhile, she also took care of her family by taking care of her husband and four children, including Gretta. When Sonny's first wife's mother became ill, she took her home and it was Renee who took care of her. After completing her studies, Renee worked in various hospitals. Her life continued happily with her husband and her children.
Gretta married John, with whom she studied at Vellore Medical College. Gretta, a gynecologist, and John, a pediatrician, started a hospital in Nagapattinam. Gretta gave birth to two sons.
Meanwhile, another sad news reached the family. At first, many people did not notice the change in Gretta's voice. However, closer examination painfully revealed that a tumor had formed on her vocal cords, and a subsequent biopsy confirmed that it was cancer. Gretta's youngest son was 10 months old at the time. Renee quit her job at the Kottayam SH Medical Center to be with her daughter while she was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vellore. The power of the hardships they experienced gave strength to her mother and daughter.
After two months of radiation treatment, Gretta completely lost her ability to speak. Undaunted, Renee took care of her daughter at her home. After her long efforts, her voice returned to some extent. Renee refused to let her cancer take away her daughter, who had been her support throughout her life, and fought to bring her Gretta back from the brink of death. Gretta now speaks fluently despite her stutter. Gretta's two sons are doctors.
'When fear is eliminated, dreams take flight.
Dr. Rennie works in the gynecology department at Paret Mar Ivanios Hospital in Puthupalli. She lives with her husband in Pakkil, Kottayam. Rajeev completed his MBBS and MS in Orthopaedics from Vellore CMC. After completing his bachelor's degree at IIT Madras and his MBA in the US, Abu is working at Amazon. Aku is a UK head and neck oncology consultant. Renee published her autobiography called “When Fears Are Ground, Dreams Take Wings,'' which tells about her own experiences and how she picked herself up when she stumbled in her life.