Farewell dear Sir

I first saw Dr. Thistle Jayawardene when I was a medical student in the Colombo Medical Faculty walking along the corridors of the, then, General Hospital Colombo. I used to wonder who this imposing figure was, dressed in immaculate white full suit with a brisk walk. I knew he was a consultant.

I first met him as a postgraduate in Anaesthesia. It was July 1986. My final MD examination was around the corner. It was my training period in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia. I was very excited having to anaesthetize patients for heart surgery. On the very first day of training in the cardiothoracic unit he put me at ease but I knew he wanted clockwork precision, meticulous anaesthesia and legible record keeping.

It was Sir who taught me anaesthetic record-keeping: starting with the preoperative assessment, continuing with monitoring the vital functions and precise postoperative instructions to the staff at the surgical intensive care unit where most cardiac patients ended. Labelling of the syringes was another feature I was not used to at that stage. I still remember an incident where a patient in Operating Theatre C got an attack of wheezing during anaesthesia. The patient was anaesthetized by a Medical Officer and she called me. I was in the other Theatre. We managed the patient and he was fine. I told the MO to record the episode of wheezing in the Anaesthetic chart. Every chart was to be put into a box in his room.

A little while later Dr. Jayawardene appeared in my theatre and questioned me regarding the anaesthetic. I explained I was not aware as I was in the open-heart surgery and I only went when the MO called me for help. He very kindly told me that it was no excuse as I was the Registrar and was being trained to be a Consultant - I should have discussed and told her which drugs to use and though I was in one theatre I had to know what was happening in both places. This was so etched in my mind that once I became a consultant even if there was more than one theatre under my care, I always knew every patient who had to undergo anaesthesia.

One day he came to me with a Leave form and asked why I had not applied for study leave for the exam just two weeks away and my answer was because we were so short of MOs. He signed the leave form and got me to apply, saying he would discuss with the Director to get an MO from another unit. I went on leave and got through the exam. Sir taught me how to treat one’s subordinates and how to run a unit effectively, giving the patient the best of care while keeping the staff, doctors, nurses and the orderlies happy.

He was the pioneer in Intensive Care in Sri Lanka.

I had the good fortune to work with him in the surgical intensive care unit for six months and a year of Senior Registrar training. This made it so easy for me to do the intensive care rotation at the Whittington Hospital, London during my training in the United Kingdom. I was one in three On Call for Intensive Care. The other two rotating with me were a medical registrar and a surgical registrar. Every morning there was a ward round with several consultants from 8 a.m. till about 11a.m. and the night registrar had to present the patients. It was my experience with Sir, presenting patients every morning throughout my training that made my life not just easy but enjoyable and came in for commendation by the UK consultants. When I told him this, his face swelled with pride.

I learnt a lot from Sir, and no doubt scores of others did too. I still remember he called me one day and asked whether I would like to do my Senior Registrar training with him. I was pregnant at the time and he knew I would be going on maternity leave soon. I told him and he said “so what?” He taught me how to be a consultant. How to handle difficult situations. How to conduct oneself and how to uphold the dignity of the profession. Being a Christian, it was easy to understand how he forgot and forgave. Whenever I questioned, he quoted chapter and verse from the Bible.

He shared my joy when I became President of the College, and was even happier when I became the chairperson of the Board of Study in Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine.

Of all he taught me I was only able to give back a little. During my term in office as the chairperson board of study in Anaesthesiology I got the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine and the University of Colombo approval to name the gold medal in Anaesthesiology in his honour. When I told him he became quite emotional, so to make light of the situation, I said “Sir I’ve made you immortal, because your name will be read at every convocation of the University of Colombo.” I can still hear his laughter. He was truly the doyen of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Sri Lanka. He was awarded the Visva Prasadini Award for services to the nation. He was a past president of the College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri Lanka, Chairperson of the Board of Study in Anaesthesiology, the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and Vice President of the Heart Association.

An excellent clinician, dutiful teacher, mentor and above all, a gentleman par excellence, I consider myself extremely lucky to have come under his tutelage. He lived an exemplary life. An adored husband, father and grandfather, loved by all who came across him in his professional life. Farewell dear Sir, until we meet at Heaven’s door.