A Night of Women, Care, and Courage: Women’s Day Surgery by an All-Women Team
Mumbai, Mar 13: In the quiet hours past midnight, when most of the city was asleep, the lights inside the operation theatre were bright and focused. It was International Women’s Day, and at that moment, a remarkable story of dedication, teamwork, and womanhood was unfolding. Late that night, a patient—an ICU nurse herself—was admitted in need of urgent obstetric care. One phone call was enough for the team to assemble. Within minutes, the hospital corridors saw quiet yet determined movement as the team prepared for the procedure. What made the moment special was not just the medical success, but the people behind it. The entire operating team that night consisted of women—the anesthetist, pediatrician, assistant surgeon, OT nurses, and of course the lead obstetrician surgeon, Dr. Hemakshi Mehta. Some of the nursing staff traveled long distances from suburbs like Vasai and Virar, leaving their homes in the middle of the night to reach the hospital. All of them are mothers, wives, and daughters, balancing the responsibilities of family life with the demands of a profession that often calls at the most unexpected hours. Yet that night, their commitment to their patient—and to their profession—came first. Within minutes, the operation theatre was ready. Under the leadership of Dr. Mehta, the team worked with precision and coordination at Apex Superspeciality Hospital. The anesthetist Dr. Varsha Vora ensured the mother’s safety and comfort, the pediatrician-
Dr. Sunila Nagvekar stood prepared to welcome the new-born, and the OT nurses handled instruments and monitoring with practiced efficiency. Soon, the cry of a healthy baby girl filled the room. In that moment, the exhaustion of the night gave way to smiles, relief, and quiet pride. The team had not only delivered a baby safely but had also lived the true spirit of Women’s Day. There were no speeches or formal celebrations. Instead, there was a small, heartfelt acknowledgment right there in the OT—women doctors and nurses looking at each other with the shared understanding that this was their way of celebrating the day. For Dr. Hemakshi Mehta, the moment symbolized something deeper. “Women in healthcare often juggle many roles,” she reflected. “We are professionals, caregivers, mothers, and partners. But when a patient needs us, we stand together as a team.
That night, every woman in the OT proved that dedication and compassion know no time.” The story of that midnight surgery is not just about a successful delivery. It is about the quiet strength of women who show up when it matters most—leaving behind their homes, their sleep, and sometimes their own families, to care for another. On that Women’s Day, in the middle of the night, inside a brightly lit operation theatre, a group of women didn’t just celebrate womanhood. They embodied it.
