Dr Bhaskar Bora

We cannot control what the universe throws at us but how we react to those curve balls defines who we are and what we make out of our lives. Dr Bhaskar Bora started his career as a Doctor and an Entrepreneur in 2000. He has worked as a Family Practitioner since 2009, managing five practices in Greater London. He is also the owner of SAMSARA RESTAURANT AND BAR in Sutton, London and is the first Assamese to start a restaurant in London. Just when life seemed rosy and the sun was shining, he sustained a severe spinal cord injury in July 2019 following an operation, which left him with paralysis of both legs, a non-functioning right hand and a long stay in the hospital, eventually leading to a forced medical retirement from his medical career and a wheelchair in place of a sports car. He had to undergo multiple operations but is now permanently disabled. Two months after his injury he was also diagnosed with cancer of the Thyroid for which he needed further operations. With a young family, he could not afford to give up yet, so he had to re-learn walking (limited distance with crutches), writing, holding a knife, fork and many other daily routines but most importantly had to retrain his mind to accept the new normal. However, these adverse life-changing experiences made him into a person of faith, gratitude and inspiration. Poorer financially but richer in experiences of life he is now a voice for the disabled and has written the book 'The Second Chance in Life' as an honest reflection of his life experiences to motivate people that every adversity can still be turned into an opportunity. That it is important to be filled with gratitude and appreciation for all the things that we take for granted. He also blogs on his website www.thesecondchanceinlife.com In ‘The Second Chance in Life’ and then his second book 'Reflections from the Heart - Anthology of 100 Poems' this self-confessed workaholic acknowledges the challenges and miracles that have influenced his life and, in a bravely honest style, shares how even your darkest days can be a springboard for positivity. How important acceptance and resilience is in turning adversities into opportunities. This book also shows the need of appreciating every small thing in life and not to take anything for granted. With various real-life examples and practical strategies, this book is an inspirational work for self-help and motivation. In his own words about the book, he says The sun was shing on my life, everything looked rosy. Money was plenty and worries scarce. I had a my dream career, a beautiful family, the blessings of my parents and love of my friends What more could I ask for? The canvas of my life was however, being prepared for a new painting a completely unexpected one. A change from being a successful doctor and entrepreneur to being a disabled pensioner and a cancer patient with severe spinal cord injury. When things go well in life, you assume you are in control. I thought so too. But when faced unprecedented situations and overwhelming emotions, it is important maintain trust in yourself and keep moving forward. I now have reduced power in my legs, sensory ataxia (a condition where you can’t feel where you are standing or stepping so causes loss of balance), loss of function of three fingers in my right dominant hand, severe and chronic neuropathic pain that feels like electric shocks passing through my body, reduced movement and pain in the neck and an inability to walk without an aid even for short distances. Writing those words, expressing my condition on the page, is still a surreal process. Did this really happen to me? Will I one day wake from this dreadful dream? Ah, if only. Somehow, I have to deal with my pain, my limitations, yet how much easier this is with a fine heart and a functioning brain. I will never give up. I am, once again, ready to take on the world. A sudden life change doesn’t have to mean the end. Gradually, what dawned on me was a new perspective, some sort of spiritual LSD that made me thankful for what I still had, rather than being unhappy about what I don’t. When storms come, an eagle flies higher in order to rise above the turbulence while a mouse hides in a corner. I had to become that eagle and soar higher, not be cornered and crushed in the storm of life. Believing in myself was the only way. Maybe this was a lesson. Maybe this was a teaching to find a bigger purpose, achieve a bigger dream. Miracles, big and small, happen every day but often we are not receptive enough to understand and appreciate them.