Today I met a long term survivor patient whose name was slightly odd. His name was bolorai rai . ( name changed for privacy)

In Hindi bolo means tell, and it is very odd to have a name that starts with bolo so I inquired with the father how this came about.

the father name was Rai.

When they first came to the hospital, the father was in a very distraught state. At the counter where patients files are made, there is often a rush and patient families who are already emotionally reeling from the diagnosis of cancer are often not in a fully cognizant state of mind.

“Nam Bolo!” ( what is the name?)

Huh?

“Arree Patient ka nam bolo!” (Come in tell the name of the patient)

“Ahh….. Ahhh…”

“Bol!”

“.. bolo Rai Rai.”

His actual name is Nikhil 😂