First Experience at Dissection Hall! |Indian MedSchool Story|

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"Death is not extinguishing the light, It is only putting out the light because the dawn has come"

-Rabindranath Tagore

We all dread of ghosts and the dead when we were young or even now, Until and unless you are into paranormal fiction or like me who is into fictitious beings.

What you expect your life to be, is the way you live your life upto. We all want to live our life with awestruck moments that brings us lots of memories to cherish forever. Have you ever thought about giving someone memories even when you are not alive? Seems unimaginable though.Here lies the Most important event in my 1st year as medical student pursuing MBBS.

My first ever experience at Dissection Hall.

I still remember my college's anatomy HOD words.

"Anatomy is the only subject where the Dead teaches the living"

It's the subject that makes us learn more about human body but also makes us ponder over the gratefulness,gratitude,courage and strength showcased by the Cadaver's family in donating for the academic purposes.

I still remember my first day at Dissection Hall. Though On the Orientation ceremony of our batch, our college staff took us a round over the departments concerned in the first year.We got a glimpse of the Dissection Hall (Formalin smelly room to be precise) on That day as well,but the real experience of seeing the cadaver was on 10th of February.

Day before that day, We had our Cadaveric Oath as part of the AETCOM. Whole Anatomy Department came to assist and guide us about the rules and guidelines that are to be followed when someone is donating their body. I still Remember the feeling before that anatomy period,it was a feeling about how will I be able to handle myself; What if I puked ;What if I get frightened or Get unconscious.

Believe me, At that time, all scenes of webseries that showcased medical students started hovering onto my mind. 

Then came the Anatomy period, the time that almost all of Our batch was waiting for(I suppose) came. We wore our White Apron and were ready to attend 11 to1pm session at Dissection Hall. I can see almost all of our classmates  were chatting on the way to Dissection Hall, how will the experience of seeing cadaver will be. Then We entered the Dissection Hall, and smell of Formalin was ready to make our eyes itchy and produce burning sensation.All of the cadavers were there on the platform with their shroud on, that is where the cadavers are kept for students to see and learn. About few minutes ,I and my friend were talking about,"Will We be alright after this?"  "Aren't we getting nauseous?" 😂 After few minutes Our Tutor came, and He told us to get seated around the platform with the gloves on.Guess what, I got a seat right in front of the platform because of my height lol. Then Sir told one of the classmates who, was or is supposedly the most intelligent and Enthusiastic guy about medicine ,to remove the shroud. He came without any fear on his face and removed the shroud. Believe me, when i first saw the cadaver I was Dumbstruck for about 15sec and really wanted to run away.I was scared! I wanted to turn back time to reflect if taking this profession was a right choice or not!I took a deep breath and started chanting,"Om namah Shivaya" as usual,probably my way of handling fear. I guess this is what all of my classmates were going through(I suppose) We were all in awe 😶

I still remember I turned my head other side, luckily one of my classmates asked me,"Are you okay?" Then After that awkward conversation I turned my head towards the platform again. Then after 15secs everything went back normal.Yes, the fear or dread or awestruck moment was for 15seconds only. Then Sir told us to come one by one and palpate the Sternal angle and Jugular notch. I touched the cadaver.I experienced touching human body who isn't alive for the first time. Then Sir guided us more about how to be obedient in Dissection Hall.To be more Respectful towards the cadaver.

Sir also told us about the history of the souls departed. 

Really, Medical profession is just like a rollercoaster ride without seatbelts on😂 It's a profession that needs hardwork and will to learn. It is indeed a respectful profession.I am glad and proud I am A medical student.

That period ended but that experience will forever be embossed onto my mind.

-Indian MedSchool Story