Saluting mothers who are leading the fight against COVID-19

BT celebrates some of Mumbai’s unsung heroes — the moms — who have to leave their children behind to fulfill their duties in the wake of the .

Dr Saloni SuchakProfession: Obstetrician and gynaecologist
Mother to: Om (11) & Aahana (9)
“I’ve been working between three hospitals since the started. When you come back home and crash, you realise you can’t even hug your children. It’s a terrible feeling and mentally, yes, it is tough. Fortunately, my kids have been very understanding and self-sufficient, and that has given me immense strength in these trying times.”

Mohini ChandrashekharProfession: Chief Nursing Officer
Mother to: Nikshet (17) & Nimisha (15)
“There are times when it becomes difficult to balance workplace duties and family time. I have felt burnt out on several occasions after working for more than 12 hours. There’s fear always at the back of my mind. As a mother, I’m fortunate to have children who are extremely supportive. Both my son and daughter encourage me to stay strong so that I can focus on my work.”

Krupali Borse
Profession: Assistant Police Inspector
Mother to: Twins Struha & Raghav (3)
“During the lockdown, I’ve opted for night shifts, so that I can look after my twins during the day along with my father-in-law, as my banker husband goes to work. I get to sleep only for a few hours, but I’m taking every day as it comes. Often, my children ask me to stay at home and play with them instead of going to work. It gets tough to make them understand my job at those times.”

Sunita Avnish KhotProfession: Assistant fire station officer
Mother to: Shaurya (1½)
“I’m based at the Byculla fire station and there has been very little work-life balance in the last month. We do 24-hour workdays (followed by a break) that translates into sanitation duty and answering calls in red zones. It’s been stressful and I miss my son. The tight hug he gives me when I get home after a long day is the best feeling in the world. As a mother, things are tough, but we have to march on.”

Dr Kirti Sabnis
Profession: Infectious disease specialist and HIV physician
Mother to: Ishaan (6)
“There are days when the workload is tremendous and I feel I could have been exposed to the virus, so I don’t go home. I wait to get tested for at least four to five days, and only go back home when I am sure everything is okay. I have tried to explain things to my son, telling him that as a doctor, it is my duty to save lives. I regularly tell my son how much I love him and that no matter what, I will always come back home to him.”





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