Kolkata, 19 March (H.S.) - In a remarkable medical feat, doctors at a private hospital in Kolkata successfully implanted a pacemaker in a 102-year-old woman, who was once Mother Teresa’s doctor. The centenarian, Dr. Smriti Kana Roy, underwent the procedure on Saturday and was discharged within two days, doctors confirmed on Wednesday.
Although pacemaker implantation is a routine procedure, performing it on a 102-year-old patient is exceptionally rare, medical experts noted.
Dr. Roy, a renowned gynecologist and a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FRCOG), had been experiencing dizziness. Upon examination, doctors discovered irregular heartbeats and recommended the pacemaker implant, her younger daughter Julie Basu told from California.
Dr. Sunil Baran Roy, a senior consultant in interventional cardiology at Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital, explained the procedure’s urgency and success.
It was an amazing experience. She has no comorbidities, but her heart rate had slowed significantly, and her holter monitor recorded a six-second pause. We recommended a pacemaker implant, he said.
She was admitted on Saturday morning, the surgery was performed the same day, and she was discharged by Monday, Dr. Roy added.
Speaking from her home in Kolkata’s Ballygunge, Dr. Roy expressed confidence in the procedure’s success.
I feel better now. Whether this is a miracle or not is not for me to say. I simply followed the doctors’ advice, she said.
When asked about the secret to her longevity and agility, she credited her active lifestyle, reading habits, and dedication to helping others.
I believe in working for others, and that has always given me satisfaction, she shared.
Her daughter Julie, 66, described her mother as a disciplined and mentally strong woman.
She has always followed a strict routine. I have never seen her cry. Even COVID-19 couldn’t affect her, she said, adding that she plans to visit Kolkata soon.
Dr. Roy had to leave her two young daughters behind in 1964 when she traveled to the UK for her medical specialization. Over the years, she not only earned her FRCOG but also served as a doctor to Mother Teresa and the nuns of the Missionaries of Charity.
She fondly recalled how Mother Teresa personally ensured her elder daughter’s admission to Loreto Convent, where the Nobel Laureate once taught before founding the Missionaries of Charity.
I remember how she took my daughter and got her admitted to Loreto when I was too busy with work, Dr. Roy reminisced.
She also recalled inviting Mother Teresa and her fellow sisters to her daughter’s wedding, marking a long-standing personal connection with the iconic humanitarian.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
