Losing my papa, the people’s doctor, to Covid-19
Running in his pair of joggers, faded jeans and white coat across the hallway with a stethoscope in his pocket and a medical ID card in the other is how I saw my papa while I was growing up in Saudi Arabia. A chest specialist (pulmonologist) by training, my father was not an ordinary doctor. He was the people’s doctor. He got along with everyone at the hospital and quickly learned a new language (Arabi), their culture and mindsets within months of his new posting in a foreign country at the same age as I am now.
Doctor Syed Fasihuddin, my papa found friends in the janitors, the nurses, the heads of departments, fellow doctors, dentists, and pharmacists. Every time we went with Papa to the hospital with him as kids, we were treated like royalty.
“Dr Syed’s children? Beautiful like Baba. MashaAllah”
At the King Abdul Aziz Hospital (Al Zahir Hospital), papa was royalty. Everyone from the Hospital mudeer (director) to the shirke wala (janitor) in his clinic loved and respected him. As he walked through the hallways, tall, handsome and always smiling, everyone would say Salam to him, on occasions give him a high-5 or two, crack a joke or go as far as to jokingly wish him “a happy second marriage soon, handsome doctor”. Of course, he laughed it off but he always found this conversation tasteless.
Dr Fasihuddin in his scrubs in Saudi Arabia.
Several of his patients and their families would call papa, send him and our families duas over the phone and even sometimes gifts. Papa would always say that the good that happens to us is because of the blessings he earns through his service.
Ammi was often asked, “Don’t you feel insecure about your husband bring so popular in the community?”
But ammi clearly did not.
Working in the main hospital in Makkah as a pulmonologist for 25 years, he treated patients as well as local and international Hajjis for SARS, MERS, different strains of influenzas, pneumonias, tuberculosis and other chest diseases routinely. The Covid-19 situation was not the first pandemic he was dealing with. When my mother told him to be careful in Karachi, he simply said,
“Covid-19 is the third Corona pandemic that I am serving through. I know it very well.”
Papa’s father, my dada (grandfather), was also a chest specialist and worked as the director of the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases for several years. My dada, Dr Syed Sabihuddin chose to specialise in this branch of medicine after he lost his young brother to tuberculosis. Ironically, my father passed away in the same campus to another chest disease, Coved-19, 30 years later - an ending we could have never imagined, even in our worst nightmares.
Despite such a bright and happy career in Saudi Arabia, papa never felt like he was settled. He had a fire in him to work in Pakistan always and follow in the footsteps of his father to work for patients back home. After 25 years of service at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, my father packed his bags, said goodbye to his lucrative salary and high connections to come back to Karachi to set up his own health institute, in his mother’s name, Taj Consultants Clinics. It would be a tale for another time how Papa avoided giving out a single rupee in bribes and managed to escape the net of corruption in the local governments, but as papa always did, he found a way to make sure his savings were not given out in haram transactions and wasted.
For the initial few years, my father used a borrowed Suzuki Alto for his travels in the city and didn’t even purchase a single new shirt for himself as the focus was to invest all that he had in the Taj Project. Yet, he never denied me anything my heart desired and even though my wedding came during the difficult time of setting up the project, papa strived to make it the happiest occasion of our lives.
After five years of hard work and working 16 hours a day with dedication at his own clinic, papa finally made his father’s dream come true, but he took no time off to celebrate this achievement as his work had become his way of life. With clinic administration to oversee in the morning and then a packed clinic in the evening, my father’s life had become his work. He never denied a patient’s phone call even in the middle of the night. If a patient was outside his clinic for him after it closed, he would still bring the patient in and see him or her.
The author and Dr Fasihuddin
With rising Covid-19 cases in the country, papa did not close the doors to his clinic, despite protests from us, his children and ammi. He refused to shut his clinic for June, as he was worried about his patients and did not want them to be left with no place to go. Taj Consultant Clinics was to remain open and running.
After he contracted the coronavirus and was admitted, he kept discussing his own x-rays and investigations with the treating consultants, fearless and very hopeful that he will brave through the worst of it and survive. During his isolation in the hospital, he also kept in touch with all of us on our family Whatsapp group till Wednesday, June 24th,
“All good here. How are you guys doing?”
It was then that the x-ray showed that his lungs were deteriorating and he was put on a ventilator. After that we did not hear from him but still kept checking messages every now and then. At the time of his death, at 1pm on Friday, June 26th, several patients waited outside his clinic patiently for a consultation with Dr Syed Fasihuddin.
This was also the day that the sky fell on our family and our lives came crashing down, to the extent that we are still in a state of shock and denial. We are still hoping that this is all a very long nightmare that we are going to wake up from.
While he was a doctor and a friend to many, to me, he was my papa, my strongest advocate and my biggest supporter. He taught me the most about empathy, kindness, the value of service, hard work and how far a single good deed can go, by being an example through his own life. Without him, my world is dark and without him, I see no solutions to the problems that lie ahead.
As a daughter of a martyred frontline worker in the era of Covid-19, I wonder if I will ever be the same again and I wonder if papa’s sacrifices and years of service will be recognised by the people he chose to work for. Either way, there is no solace for this loss in our family, because everything is reversible, except death.
All pictures courtesy Fatima Fasih
COMMENTS (24)
Fatima fasih, some years back i used to admire your paintings that you would share publicly and followed you on tumblr. Im deeply saddened for the loss you suffered. Your father was such a brilliant personality. May Allah grant him highest ranks on jannah and grant you all sabr to bear with his absence.
Being a proud father of two daughters,I am well versed with the bonding and camaraderie we enjoy..I failed to hold back my tears after going through the post.I had an opportunity to be with this great man only for some hours when he accompanied the wedding party of Dr Subhi , your Mamu and my son in law,yet I could discover simplicity and subtle style as his unique quality No words to express my deep sorrow and grief on the untimely death ,a great loss to the family,,profession and the nation I ,with a very heavy heart,offer my deepest condolences May Allah swt grant him highest place in Jannatul firdaus and sabre Jameel to all near ones
Very sorry to hear the death of your father, whom I met him in Makkah several times because I was living very close to the hospital and working for Haram’s construction project. However, I found him very accommodating and kind. May Allah bless him a highest place in Jannah. May Allah accept his all work he did for humanity.
An unsung hero and a role model for all of us ..and not to forget an inspiration as well ..may his soul rest in peace isha'allah ............
کلُّ مَنْ عَلیها فَان وَ یبقَی وَجْهُ رَبَّک ذوالجلالِ والاکرام Sad to know about the demise of your dad. Came to know that Dr.Sabih Uddin was your Dada. I met him regularly at his clinic in Hira Abad Hyderabad in early eighties . He was a Handsome men and used to be a leading chest specialist . came to know about this article through a common relative. Stay blessed.
Dr fasih .my class fellow was very close to me .i talked to him just a day before he admitted for his disease ..i never forget his kindness towards his pts towards his freinds ..he was such a great human being .we miss u my freind..u were such a beatiful soul ....may Allah give you highest place in janna..Ameen
It is very difficult to get over the feeling of losing a dear one and that also one of your parent. You can contribute towards working for Taj Consultant Clinics to make your dad's dream come true
May Almighty Allah bless our dear friend n JANATULFIRDOS. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY IN EVERY MOMENT OF their LIFE
I know it is not easy to lose one of your parent and your dad was so close to you. You can focus your life in contributing towards your father's aim to provide best medical care in the Taj Consultant Clinics. All the best to you.
Dear Fatima, Unfortunate incidents happen suddenly. That is life, though sad. We share your sorrow. You can get on with your life cherishing his values and contributions to society.
Your father reminds me of mine who passed away in 2008. I feel that one way to cope with such a loss is to follow in his footsteps such as being kind to everyone and helping people with their problems. This way his legacy lives on.
Dear Fatima, I can feel the pain you gone through losing your baba. He was great soul and lovely dependable friend. I feel pain to think how I will pass my time when I go to Pakistan during vacation when is not there. I will miss his call asking how you chanda are you free come to me we will go for outing or function etc. May Allah Grant him high place in janat for his good deeds for humanity. Ameen I tried to get your contact by don't get.
Beta everybody has to go but it is a sad reality . May GOD BLESS his soul.
Well all I can say losing father for such a good cause leaves you speechless n reminds of the days that medicine still not reached a level where those working on it survive.. pray the family is strong enough to live with his memory
Realy dear you are absolutely right ,your father is great person ,every one loves him & mis him,in fact he was good son,brother,,friend,father he loves every body so ALLHA LOVES HIM SO MUCH,he win not only persons,he win ALLHA,ALLHA NEED ANGEL GOT IT,again we all say love you boby bahi we mis you mis you,we all s 100% sure you r in janah,because of so much blessing of common & needy persons ,I know you very wel,so GOB BLESS,nothing i have to do bus remember in ur duas,love you again.ameen
As a family with several doctors in both Pakistan and International, we understand your pain. Try to find focus on something in you desire to get better at and the pain will slowly but surely fade over time Our prayers are with your family Regards and best wishes
Dr. Fasih’s sudden death has shocked many. He left this world doing exactly what he loved and has left big shoes to fill. It is excruciating to think what you three must be going through.
Sir Dr. Syed Fasih was not only my boss he was my brother my papa he always treat me like a younger brother and he was such a nice man always support and help to poor people his vision was always to be make beautiful environment in Karachi as his dream he built by his hand TAJ CONSULTANTS CLINIC. His big loss for Pakistan especially for poor people.😔 ALLAH hamare Pyare Sir Dr. Fasih ko JANNAT me Ala se Ala Maqam Ata Kare AMEEN....
My daughter fatima .this is temporary life for all living things on earth.but some persons when leave this world and go to thier permanent destination early in life but leave a big gap for his family and friends which is difficult to fill for decades and syed fasih was one of them.during his life in this world he done his duties honestly and hardwork for family .friends and specially poor community.Now it is our job to carry his mission and pray for him to help him to get more rewards from Allah Pak .This is rule of Allah who created us and if we follow these rules with patience we all successful in this world and in next permanant place of life.Ameen.
Assalamualaikum Fatima, I am Dr. Syed Muhammad Hasan. A Diabetologist and Endocrinologist at the Taj Clinics. Just as you wrote, death is irreversible, so as the loss, caused by it. Dr. Fasihuddin was not just a doctor, he was a very kind hearted and thorough gentleman. May Allah bless his soul. I strongly feel that by bringing your and your mother's, Dr. Ilmana's knowledge and experience to home, I hope that the legacy would definitely continue. The loss is irreversible but no one could better run the show, except his own family. Take a good care of yourself and your mom.
Thank you Fatima sharing your story with all of us. Indeed his lost is tragedy for all of us in medical profession. I am specialist in infectious disease and epidemiology and totally understand your pain. We just hope soon we will find vaccine.
we are sorry for his said demise. Allah bessed his soul and give you power to bear such loss. i and my wife were taking treatment from him since December 2020.we wiil always remember his soft and lovely tone of talking.
اللہ رب العزت آپ کے والد کی مغفرت فرماے میں اور میری وآءف دسمبر 2020 سے انکے زیر علاج تھے ۔ ھمیں بھی انکا محبت بھرا لہجہ یاد رہے گا اللہ آپ کو صبر دے
Really sorry to hear about your father's loss Dr. Fasihuddin. He was certainly a great human being. Thanks for recapping his life and services to the humanity at large. I am sure he is in a much better place than we can envision. May God raise his ranks in the hereafter.
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