[San Phrangmung]

This is a travelogue of a diffrent kind and happened a year back. Since i did not find it in any forum, i am adding the news clippings and whatever other material i could find on the net here. Others may ad whatever details they may have.

4,000 km ride for his pet Bonxie

Shillong To Chennai,Man Drives To Get Healthcare For Dog
Priya M Menon | TNN
Chennai: The critical care unit at the Madras Veterinary College was abuzz with activity on Friday morning.By the time Sanjay Sharma walked in with his pet dog Bonxie,a team of doctors and attendants was ready to take charge.As flashbulbs popped and cameras rolled,veterinarians fitted Bonxie with a holter ECG,which would monitor and record his heart function for the next 24 hours.All along,Sharma remained by his dogs side,crooning to him.
He will be alright,he knows I want him around, says Sharma,who drove 4,000 km from Shillong to Chennai to get his pet the best healthcare available in the country.He is an inseparable part of my life, says Sharma,who got the Boxer as a gift from a friend in Alabama.

A lively 16-month-old,Bonxie first displayed symptoms of his illness in January.We had a severe winter and Bonxie wasnt keeping well.He was on antibiotics and when he first fainted,I though it was due to weakness, says Sharma.However,when Bonxie began having fainting spells in quick succession,sometimes two to three times in an hour,Sharma rushed him to the local vet,who said further investigations would be required.My brother-in-law is a vet who studied in Madras Veterinary College and he put me onto doctors here.They have the best veterinary care facilities in the country, says Sharma,who contacted professor of clinical medicine Dr A P Nambi about 10 days ago.
Sharma decided to come down to Chennai with Bonxie since vets suspected there was something wrong with the dogs heart.Air travel was ruled out since he was afraid the cargo hold may not be well-oxygenated.I didnt travel by train as Bonxie hates closed doors, he says.So he hopped into his Mahindra Xylo,along with Deepak,his Man Friday,and drove down to Chennai.Bonxie loves drives,he is in the front seat with me whenever I drive, says Sharma,who carried a tent along with him in case he didnt find a pet-friendly hotel along the way.Dr Nambi and his team are optimistic about the dogs recovery.

Man drives from Shillong to Chennai for his dog

Express News Service

First Published : 12 Feb 2010 02:30:00 AM IST

CHENNAI: A man drove down from Shillong to Chennai, covering about 4,000 km by road in four days, to save his ‘best friend’, an American Boxer, afflicted by a mysterious illness.
Sanjay Sharma who runs a consultancy service in Shillong, has been living with his dog Bonxie, for the past 16 months. When Bonxie began having epileptic attacks due to an irregular heart beat, veterinarians in Meghalaya recommended he seek advanced health care.

So Sharma got into his Xylo MUV with the dog and a helper and drove down — as travel by plane or train would have been stressful for Bonxie.

He admitted his dog to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) Hospital, where Bonxie underwent a series of tests on Thursday.

Bonxie, who was a gift from a friend in Alabama, behaved nicely throughout the journey, sleeping most of the time or sitting in the front seat, Sharma said.

TANUVAS vice chancellor Dr P Thangaraju said this was not the first time they were treating a dog from a distant place. “We have treated animals from dog squads of the army and BSF too,’’ he said.

Dr A P Nambi of TANUVAS said Bonxie would be kept under observation for 48 hours before being treated.

Bonxie starts homeward journey from Chennai

GUWAHATI, FEB 16 (AGENCIES): With a special mass offer from St Thomas Church at the historic shrine for the 18-month-old American Boxer's speedy recovery and a cute Valentine's Day felicitation for the duo on Saturday, owner Sanjay Sharma sets out for their return journey today

with a recovering Bonxie.
The Bonxie, whose owner had driven 4,000 kms from Shillong to Chennai, has been given a good health report by the Tamil Nadu University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (TANUVAS).
According to Sharma, talking over phone from Chennai, the Veterinarians treating him for a cardiac condition-Syncope, a not unusual congenital anomaly in this breed of mastiffs.
''I may spend the night at Rajamundry or, if I feel, I may drive the whole night,'' Sharma said before leaving Chennai this afternoon.
According to Prof Dr A P Nambi, tests on Bonxie had revealed some cardiac issues, but these seemed to be congenital in origin and was quite commonly found in boxers world over.
The Veterinarian, who is well-acknowledged in the field of canine medicine, was understood to have encouraged Bonxie's owner, Sharma, a consultant from Shillong, to get his pet thoroughly checked up when the boxer started experiencing multiple episodes of brief 'faints' about 20 days ago.
As word of Sharma's labour of love spread, animal lovers from all over the country have been calling Bonxie's care-giver to express solidarity and good wishes for his speedy recovery.
Sharma, whose vehicle log reveals he had driven for almost 18 hours on each of the three days that it took to complete his life-saving run with Bonxie, said he had encountered no problem whatsoever despite the fact that he had barely stopped or rested the vehicle during the drive, except when he himself halted to grab forty winks.
Interestingly, Bonxie did not experience a single episode of fainting ever since the journey from Shillong began and although looked tired was in high spirits as Sharma and he prepared for their return journey on Tuesday.
Fans and supporters got in touch with Sharma, who would be halting at the various toll plazas along the way to meet and interact with Bonxie's well wishers.
Mahindra also ordered a batch of ''Buddies for Life'' t-shirts 'signed' by Bonxie as give-away merchandise to humane societies, to mark the first anniversary of the launch of Xylo.
M&M officials hinted there could be a limited-edition run of Xylo E6 models carrying Bonxie as its good luck mascot with his paw print as a 'signature' since the 'life-saving' mission drives home the reliability and endurance aspect of this newsmaking SUV.

[San Phrangmung]

HUMAN TOUCH OR ANIMAL TOUCH ?

HUMAN TOUCH OR ANIMAL TOUCH
"He cannot die, we have a pact. When we go, we go together.” He says, cuddling his pet.

OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS TOUCH THE DEPTHS OF OUR EMOTIONS AND BELIEFS, AND IN DOING SO, THEY WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE LIVE, FULFILLING LIVES … 4,000 KM FOR HIS PET BONXIE SHILLONG TO CHENNAI,

MAN DRIVES TO GET HEALTHCARE FOR DOG Chennai: The critical care unit at the Madras Veterinary College was abuzz with activity on Friday morning. By the time Sanjay Sharma walked in with his pet dog Bonxie, a team of doctors and attendants was ready to take charge. As flashbulbs popped and cameras rolled, veterinarians fitted Bonxie with a holter ECG, which would monitor and record his heart function for the next 24 hours. All along, Sharma remained by his dog’s side, crooning to him.
“He will be alright, he knows I want him around”, says Sharma, who drove 4,000 km from Shillong to Chennai to get his pet the best healthcare available in the country. “He is an inseparable part of my life,” says Sharma, who got the Boxer as a gift from a friend in Alabama. Sharma, who has his own security-cum-detective firm back home, even has a blog for his pet, Bonxie

A lively 16-month-old, Bonxie first displayed symptoms of his illness in January. “We had a severe winter and Bonxie wasn’t keeping well. He was on antibiotics and when he first fainted, I though it was due to weakness,” says Sharma. However, when Bonxie began having fainting spells in quick succession, sometimes two to three times in an hour, Sharma rushed him to the local vet, who said further investigations would be required. “My brother-in-law is a vet who studied in Madras Veterinary College and he put me onto doctors here. They have the best veterinary care facilities in the country,” says Sharma, who contacted professor of clinical medicine Dr. AP.Nambi about 10 days ago.
Sharma decided to come down to Chennai with Bonxie since vets suspected there was something wrong with the dog’s heart since it has an irregular heartbeat. Air travel was ruled out since he was afraid the cargo hold may not be well-oxygenated. “I didn’t travel by train as Bonxie hates closed doors and the motion may upset him,” he says. So he hopped into his Mahindra Xylo along with Deepak, his Man Friday, and drove down to Chennai.
“Bonxie loves drives, he is in the front seat with me whenever I drive,” says Sharma, who carried a tent along with him in case he didn’t find a pet- friendly hotel along the say. “Luckily I met only friendly, co-operative people,” he says. He hit a rough patch only in the very beginning of his journey, since it was a bandh day in Assam.
Dr.Nambi and his team are optimistic about the dog’s recovery. “We will know the exact cause of his illness after we get the results,” says Dr.Nambi. “So we have asked them to be in the city till Tuesday.”
And Sharma is confident that Bonxie will recover. “He cannot die, we have a pact. When we go, we go together.” He says, cuddling his pet.

MY COMMENTS AS A VET:

BONXIE is a cute little boxer diagnosed suffering from SYNCOPE. It is pronounced as SIN-KO-PEA. Partial or complete loss of consciousness with interruption of awareness of oneself and ones surroundings; in nonmedical quarters it is refered as fainting.

Syncope is due to a temporary reduction in blood flow and therefore a shortage of oxygen to the brain. This leads to a sudden, transient loss of consciousness associated with loss of postural tone (collapse). Syncope is a clinical sign, not a specific diagnosis or disease

Most Frequent Associated Conditions in Dogs with Syncope are Cardiac Diseases and Abnormalities which weakens the heart to pump out adequate blood especially to brain
Therapy is aimed at managing underlying abnormalities, as well as avoiding precipitating factors such as exertion or environmental stressors, when possible. This may include instituting or adjusting medications for heart failure, correcting anemia, or treating respiratory or metabolic diseases. When an arrhythmia appears to be the cause of syncope, appropriate anti arrhythmic drug therapy or pacing is indicated. Ambulatory ECG (Holter) monitoring has been useful for identifying or excluding cardiac arrhythmias and this was done for BONXIE and ruled out.
Now BONXIE is undergoing treatment for cardiac arrhythmia and advised to avoid exertion or environmental stress.


The incidence of syncope is more in certain breed of dogs like Boxer, Miniature Pinscher, Standard Schnauzer ,Miniature Schnauzer, Maltese - % of Total Dogs in breed respectively.

http://wisecreatures.blogspot.com/20...he-cannot.html

[hvkumar]

Sanjay Sharma is a friend of mine and the news was covered extensively in the press at that time. Bronxie recovered and is last heard of, fine.

[San Phrangmung]

Hvk maybe you could convince SS to join team-bhp and share with us the compleate story.

And yes Bonxie is doing well and is a family man now.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by San Phrangmung

Hvk maybe you could convince SS to join team-bhp and share with us the compleate story.

And yes Bonxie is doing well and is a family man now.

No idea about Sanjay's team-bhp plans (isn't he a member already?), but you can see I am connected to him in FB. He had quite a eventful drive both ways (I know, since I advised him on his route!).

[San Phrangmung]

We never have time enough for anything, but things wait for no one.

We meet over net, we exchange mails, we share ideas and before we could even meet face to face, we realize its too late.

Rest in Peace brother.

God Bless.


Ps:

Noted Tura scribe passes away
Tura (May 12): Sanjay Sharma, the founding editor of the best-selling Garo newspaper ‘Salantini Janera’, passed away in a hospital in Shillong following complications from a surgery on Saturday. He was 47. The first regular weekly newspaper christened “Janera” was inaugurated in the early part of 1993. He also worked with the Meghalaya Guardian, The Shillong Times to which Janera belonged, The Sentinel and for Times of India, Gujarat edition. Janera transformed from a weekly newspaper into a daily christened ‘Salantini Janera’ in August 2000. His exposure of Pakistan’s ISI network in Bangladesh earned him a journalistic award in Assam

https://m.facebook.com/healthehealer...59741490708362

[Jignesh]

Originally Posted by San Phrangmung

We never have time enough for anything, but things wait for no one.
Sanjay Sharma, the founding editor of the best-selling Garo newspaper ‘Salantini Janera’, passed away

Hello San,

I am feeling really sad to hear that a person like Sanjay Sharma passed away at age of 47. You said well - things (& time) waints for no one. We keep on thinking of things to be done in future, but never realise that the future may not come. Whatever is to be done, one should do it today itself.

Cannot believe that a Person who travelled 8000+ kms just to save his pet dog, passed away at this young age.

Any idea on what is Bonxie doing now? How is his health & who will keep him since Sanjay Sharma has passed away?

Thanks,

[motomaverick]

Really heartfelt story of Mr. Sharma to come to Chennai for Bronxie. Its also sad to read that he passed away at such a young age. So the pact they had got broken. But I am sure their story will always be close to our hearts. Thanks San for bringing this lovely piece of story for us.

[Maverick5490]

Really sad to read this story. R.I.P. SS and may God give courage to his dear ones, esp. Bonxie.

[San Phrangmung]

How it happened
Shillong Times May 13.

SHILLONG: Sannjay Sharma, (45) former bureau chief with The Shillong Times, Tura and later started Cognet Solutions a hugely popular brand designing and publication firm at Lachumiere, passed away on Saturday evening at Nazareth Hospital, Shillong.

Sharma came to the hospital, hale and hearty on Wednesday, (May 9) evening riding his motorbike and was admitted for Liposuction surgery. He signed his own consent form for the surgery.

Prior to that Sharma who had recently gained weight consulted a doctor friend, Dr Henry Nongrum an ENT specialist in Nazareth Hospital about his predicament. His family informed that his weight had exacerbated his back problem and he wanted to treat that by reducing weight as advised by his friends in the medical profession.

Dr Nongrum allegedly put him in touch with a plastic surgeon from Chennai, Dr Rajmohan Veerabardhran. Sharma undertook the Liposuction procedure on Thursday morning at 9.15 am and only came out of it at 3 pm. The surgeon suctioned out 8.6 litres of fat from his body. He left after the operation and entrusted the patient to the care of Nazareth Hospital.

Fr Devasia a close confidante of Sharma who went to visit him on Friday evening said he complained of excruciating pain. His family members informed that the doctors had to sedate him to reduce the pain and enable help him catch some sleep.

Hospital sources also informed that there was a lot of soakage from the point where the Liposuction procedure was carried out. Sharma was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday at 8 am after he developed severe complications.

Family members repeatedly tried to contact Dr Rajmohan to seek his advice and find out why the complications have arisen and how to deal with it but he did not pick up their calls.

Sharma passed away at about 6 pm on Saturday. It was evident that something had gone seriously wrong and that Nazareth Hospital was unable to cope with the critical care that Sharma needed at that point of time.

When Dr Gordon Rangad, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) was informed of the seriousness of the case he rushed to Nazareth Hospital and tried to explain to the family members that everything possible was done to save Sharma’s life. But obviously that was not good enough.

Reliable sources inform that Dr Rangad was not in the know about this particular case. This raises a question as to whether doctor-consultants from outside can come and carry out procedures without waiting for the mandatory 48 hours to observe how the patient is doing and deal with post operative complications.

Doctors who did not wish to be named said Liposuction has several complications and should have been carried out in a Tertiary Hospital – fully departmentalized, advanced multi-specialty hospital equipped with the service capabilities needed to support certified Medical Specialists and other licensed physicians and able to provide prompt post operative care.

Hospital sources on condition of anonymity said Sharma had internal haemorrhage for which the family members had been asked to procure medicines and injections. His blood pressure dropped suddenly following which he was put on ventilator on Saturday morning. After that his vital organs collapsed and death was a natural corollary.

Meanwhile, Nazareth Hospital Administrator, Sr Mary Paul who is out of station, expressed deep regret at the incident.

“I express my sincere regrets to the family members of Sannjay Sharma and offer my deepest condolences. This procedure should not have been carried out in my absence. Henceforth I shall not allow any outstation consultants/specialists to operate at Nazareth. Dr Rajmohan was coming to operate on children with cleft palate,” Sr Mary Paul said, adding that she is arriving back on Tuesday and will personally go into the matter.

Sharma leaves behind a host of friends and well wishers, particularly young entrepreneurs in the designing and publishing business whom he mentored. On hearing of his death they thronged the hospital premises with one question – “How did it happen?”

That’s a question the Nazareth Hospital authorities will have to answer.

[San Phrangmung]

The last thoughts that he shared :

Sannjay Sharma
Deeply pained to hear of yet another young lady taking her own life. Ever wondered why the incidence of suicides seems to be registering an alarming growth rate? Ever wondered why it is the young who pick this extreme step - apparently at the drop of a hat. I have my own theory and I will list them in the order I think they are responsible.
1. Having nothing to aspire to - anything anyone wants is now available at the drop of hat; the only thing no one ever seems to get is a "GENUINE" patient hearing, a caring word, a comforting hug. They don't stock those in those glitzy malls that draw the crowds
2. Mobiles - I challenge anyone out there to show me a story with a tragic ending that doesn't have a cellphone lurking somewhere in the woodwork.
3. Social media - the paradox is, although it gives you reach, it offers you no solace. You can therefore cry your heart out on your sleeve but there won't be any shoulders to cry on; they're busy slouched over their cellphones texting inanities to all and sundry or updating their statuses with all that's happening in their lives - irritable bowel syndrome or botox!
THINK ABOUT IT!
Apr 27 ·

[San Phrangmung]

Sannjay Sharma about his Best Friend

What I ever did to be blessed with him, I will never know, but I know it must have been something very, very special. It is rare for anyone ... and I mean ANYONE ... to receive the kind of unconditional love a twin soul can give you - so what if it is packaged in crinkly skin, a tawny coat, four paws with dew claws, a stump of a tail, an undershot jaw, a copious drool; its speaking eyes, every time they look at you mid-emotion say in silence louder than words .... ÿou are my world!

[hvkumar]

It is very sad that Sannjay Sharma had to die this way, due to what appears to be medical negligence. He was so full of life, into so many activities....his last mail to me one month ago talked about getting out of mainstream living & doing a global drive in a caravan along with his wife...and undoubtedly his canine friends.

[motocamp]

Really sad, God bless his soul.The best people always go young :(

[bottle]

Really sad story, RIP Sanjay

Thanks for taking the time to post the write up San