Fighting against the odds: Prabhat’s story of resilience and willpower

Mr. Prabhat Patil’s story is  a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and determination to fight back against the odds. When fate takes you from the highest to the lowest of lows, it’s a test of your resilience and willpower. Imagine facing an illness that turns your body into what feels like a lifeless. Many would be broken, but not Mr. Prabhat. In the face of adversity, he emerged as an example of courage, perseverance, and the unbreakable human will. His story is a reminder that even when life tries to push us down, we can rise, overcome, and achieve the extraordinary. 

Let’s read his story.. 

It was a time when Life was like a magnificent ship sailing on calm seas. I was serving as a Second Engineer and had completed multiple contracts already. I had gained a reputation as a drydock specialist, having successfully completed the drydocking of approx 90% of the vessels I sailed on. Financially also, everything was excellent and I thought it’s a good time to get through the Chief Engineer (C/E) exams. To accomplish this, I planned to stay onshore until I get the C/E ticket. I focused on my goal, and over the next 7-8 months, I cleared the orals. Now, only the written exam were remaining to reach the last and highest step of my sailing career.

Alongside in pursuit of my goal, I was cherishing precious moments with my family during this time. We enjoyed occasions that I had missed for the previous years due to my continues sailing commitments. My son was about to turn three years old, and I was filled with excitement, eagerly counting down the days until we could celebrate his special day. However, the calm sea was on the verge of turning into a storm. Something unexpected was waiting to happen, something that would change my life, my family’s life.

It all began with a slight pain in my calves, and within a short time, I realized I couldn’t stand. I had no grip, and it felt like I had lost all strength in my legs & arms. My family, friends were all in panic as they rushed me to the hospital. It was shocking to everyone because it happened so rapidly. In no time, I went from being fit to someone who couldn’t move a finger.

After arriving at the hospital, the doctors conducted a series of tests and scans, and after thorough examination, the doctors concluded that it’s Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder caused by an infection. It ruthlessly attacks the peripheral nervous system, which can lead to paralysis and life threatening situations. 

The doctor’s first recommendations was Plasmapheresis, a treatment in which a part of the blood (plasma) is replaced to remove the harmful antibodies. So.. Hoping for a miracle, I underwent five sessions of it.  But unfortunately, the results fell short of our hopes. Although my lungs and brain remained unaffected, but my body experienced no movement, except for the sensation. Now, the only hope left was physical therapy, with the looming question: would I ever recover from this? Would I be able to walk again? Even the doctors were also not sure about it.

During the initial months, particularly on emotionally side, it was a painful journey. It was very difficult to see my wife and father taking care of me when I should have been looking after them. But I was helpless. I even began to question whether it is worth living in such condition. These thoughts literally burdened my soul. However, my wife, family, and friends showed immense courage. They held onto hope and always wished for my recovery. In addition to my regular physiotherapy sessions, my wife devoted all her time and energy to my care, as if I were a child once more. My father remained a constant presence by my side, and our friends visited us on weekends, bringing with them the warmth of their families to create a positive atmosphere. Those moments with my friends and family are forever imprinted in my memory when they used to gather around me, placing me at the center, and we’d watch movies on TV together. They even engaged me in card games, urging me to pick a card, and my means of response was through my eyes. I felt incredibly fortunate to have such people in my life. I could see their unwavering belief in my recovery, and I transformed that belief into my own source of courage. 

From that point forward, I expelled all the negative thoughts from my mind, and my daily goal was to surpass the previous day’s progress. Gradually, some small movements returned, and I regained my ability to speak, but my situation was still similar to that of a newborn baby. First, I learned to turn in bed and began to support myself on my stomach. Then, slowly I started hoisting myself up with the help of my arms while lying on my stomach. Later, I even told my wife that I wanted to sleep on the floor because I had progressed to crawling. It felt like I was crawling like a baby, making my way out of the room. My movements were returning, but my energy levels remained low. Gradually, I started putting weight on my knees and persistently attempted to stand with the support of walls. Eventually, I began to walk with the help of a walker, which later replaced by a walking stick. All these small steps were a tremendous daily struggle for me, but I did that for the sake of my family & friends, to see smiles on their faces, to make them realize that every single effort they put in was truly worth it.

From being bedridden to walking, it was an immense relief, but there was a long journey ahead. By this point, two years had passed, and all my savings were finished. To sustain the family, my wife decided to restart the job. It had been a while since she had worked because it was never needed when I was at sea.  However, whether it was providing financial support or taking care of me and the family during my worst days, she was always there, stepping up in every situation. It is something invaluable and immeasurable that can’t be repaid.

For me, it was crucial to return to work, and to do that, I had to be better than just walking. I pushed my limits every day, even started riding a two-wheeler to improve my mobility and balance. However, returning to sea was still not an option in that physical condition. So, the only choice left was to find work on land. I had no idea about what all shore jobs are available for me because when you sail for many years, you don’t think about it. So the first and biggest challenge was to start from a scratch. And, on top of that, I lacked confidence because there had always been someone around me for help, and the thought of being alone at work was scary. I wondered what would happen if I fell or couldn’t stand for more than a few minutes. These thoughts troubled my mind continuously.

But In the midst of these uncertainties, a friend came forward as a light of hope, showing me the path forward. He motivated me and suggested a company where the roles were not high-profile but were related to technical work so that I could stay engaged. The salary was low, but at that time, whatever I could earn was good. Something was indeed better than nothing.

I secured the job and decided that I would commute to work and back home independently. Luckily, the office was not far. Initially, it was quite challenging, but things improved as I got to know some supportive colleagues. With time, they became not just colleagues but good friends who encouraged me both at work and outside. I’m forever grateful for their unwavering support; they made me feel like family. There were moments when they witnessed me struggling to drink water due to shaky hands, but they always assured me that it would get better soon. Sometimes, when someone believes in you and you believe in their belief, things tend to work out. After a few months, I was walking more steadily, and the shakiness had disappeared. I strengthened my body enough to set a personal challenge: to reach the office on foot. There was a bridge on the way, and I crossed it daily during my walks. Yes, I lost my balance and stumbled occasionally, but I never gave up. 

From those days to today, I’ve gone trekking in various hills and mountains with my family & friends. I’ve climbed many forts, drawing inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ji. Regardless of starting over with a shore job, I worked diligently and was promoted to the position of Head of Department. With all the respect I have gained on land, the love for the sea still holds a special place in my heart, and I often wish if I could return to sailing. Unfortunately, I have not regained full fitness. Nevertheless, I find fulfillment in my job because over the last four years, I have trained many junior engineers who faced academic setbacks. I have encouraged them and helped them find their way back to the sea. Witnessing them embark on their sea voyages fills me with immense joy, as it feels like they are fulfilling my dream.  

There was a time when my hands and legs were of no use, and then there came a time when I had a team of around 70 people to lead. Time is truly powerful, the ultimate tester of our strengths, and to reveal our true companions during our toughest days. Reflecting on my journey, I stand here with immense pride, knowing that my friends and family never abandoned me; they were my unwavering support, my rock solid foundation. The toughest times are the ones where you must not give up. As seafarers, we need to realize that if something goes wrong at sea, there’s a life beyond it. We can start again and reach a good place. Never lose hope and never back down. 

Mr. Prabhat’s journey was a roller coaster ride. During initial recovery, there was a moment of frustration when he tossed his passport aside, believing he might never need it again. However, as time passed, he found success in his onshore career and even traveled confidently outside the country for business visit, a remarkable journey. What’s even more remarkable is that he was blessed with another son after his recovery. So amazing it is.