Day 1 - 72 Hours in Sumi and KC's Lives
By Jitu and Raksha Modi
June 22, 2024 to June 25, 2024
Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 10:30 am, 72F (22C), Sunny, beautiful morning
It was almost exactly 58 years ago that I met Jitu Modi as we entered our first year of engineering studies at the Walchand College of Engineering in Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
We spent four years in Sangli together. In September 1970 we both came to the US for our Masters, he at the Texas A&I and I at Berkeley.
After graduation, fate brought us back together in Philadelphia. Jitu was working there and I came searching for a job. We both were working there in non-career jobs. We roomed together in an apartment in Clifton Heights, a suburb of Philadelphia.
Ultimately, our career work took us to different places; Jitu settling in Columbia, Maryland (not far from the Washington, DC) and I in Rochester Hills in Michigan.
We stayed in touch but more recently on a regular basis in our bi-weekly Sangli college friend’s zoom calls (in which Raksha, his wife, also joins).
Raksha and Jitu read My Journey with Sumi book from cover to cover and got motivated to spend time with Sumi and I in our own environment.
Raksha and Jitu spent 72 hours with us in our home arriving on Monday, June 22 and departing on Thursday, June 25. They read about Our Journey but personally observing and immersing in our lives was an experience at a different level.
For the next 3 days, as daily diary, they will share what they observed and how we spent our time together.
From: Raksha and Jitu Modi
72 Hours in the lives Sumi and KC in their Home, Rochester Hills, Michigan
Monday, June 22 to Thursday, June 25, 2024
Monday, June 22, 1:00 pm:
KC came to pick us up at the airport on a beautiful sunny day while Sooman Kansal, KC’s neighbor, was looking after Sumi. We met Sumi and Sooman upon our arrival at KC’s home
KC had prepared Upma and we had lunch of Upma with dahi on the deck. Sumi sat in her Broda chair with us on the deck.
Around 3 pm, Shaina Cook – a Hospice nurse, wo comes every Monday, came to check on Sumi! Everything was normal. Sumi is not on any medications.
We spent the whole afternoon talking about so many different topics while Sumi sat on her chair listening to us talk!
Anjuben, Sumi’s Indian caregiver comes every Monday. Besides taking care of Sumi, Anju cooks for KC (or any guests KC invites on Monday).
In the three phots below, you will see how carefully Anjuben is helping Sumi get out of her wheelchair and take her to the bathroom for toileting.
Once Sumi was settled after her toilet, Anjuben made delicious home cooked dinner for us…
Just see the delightful smile on Anjuben’s face making the food.
Menu:
Starters: Anjuben’s special “Desai Vada” with chutney
Red wine
Fulka Roti
Methi / Potato Shak
Turiya Kadhi (Ridged green skin and tapered ends gourd in spiced yogurt base curry)
Dessert: Homemade Shrikhand
We wholesomely enjoyed our dinner while Sumi enjoyed her Shrikhand, too.
Bedtime for Sumi!
Sumi has a good night sleep on most nights…. Throughout the night, she sleeps in one position, on her back. She goes to bed around 10 pm and gets out of the bed at 10 am when Lizzy, the morning care givers comes. Sumi make no fuss about anything…..
