“It is dismaying but humbling to care for my oncology patients during this pandemic,” Tanya says. “Patients must lean on the support of their healthcare providers because they cannot be around their own family and friends during this time.”
Tanya Lutfeali Lalani, a doctor of nursing practice, and Alykhan Lalani, a physician, met in a microbiology class at Georgia State University, while following their passion for learning about healthcare and helping others. As husband and wife, they both feel fortunate to be able to assist their community through healthcare.
Currently, they live in Louisiana where there is no Jamatkhana. Tanya works as a provider in New Orleans at Ochsner Medical Center in the Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Department. Alykhan is completing a 5-year integrated vascular surgery residency program with LSU Health in New Orleans.
“I take care of many immunocompromised and immunosuppressed patients,” Tanya says of her current experience at the hospital. “These patients must battle their blood and bone marrow cancers without the physical support from their loved ones during this pandemic.”
Alykhan shares that, “It is very saddening to see patients passing away alone and in very bad conditions due to coronavirus, it is terrible to see bodies in cooler trucks because funeral homes are backed up. It is upsetting that last rites cannot be performed as usual because the risk of transmission is too high.”
The couple explains how their daily work has changed in order to adjust to new situations brought on by the pandemic, including being screened every morning before entering the hospital, a reduction in the number of elective surgeries, and a hold on transplants for patients who have been waiting wearily.
“The transplants that we have been able to perform are only for the sickest, most life-threatened patients,” Tanya remarks. “These patients have had to undergo month-long hospital stays without loved ones to support them.”
“Many COVID-19 patients end up in renal failure and require my team and me to insert dialysis catheters,” Alykhan says. “Unfortunately, almost all of these patients with renal complications do not make it.”
Tanya and Alykhan are fortunate that they have received support, including de-stressing sessions and personal protective equipment from their hospitals. They are always required to wear masks which keeps them protected but it means their patients and co-workers can no longer see their smiles.
Not only have Tanya and Alykhan dedicated their professional careers to helping others but they also value education and love teaching. Alykhan has taught organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and surgical anatomy at Georgia State University. Tanya has taught nursing students at the Medical College of Georgia.
This shared value of education has inspired them to reach many academic milestones. Tanya received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing then went back to school to become a nurse practitioner and get her doctoral degree. Alykhan also received his Bachelor of Science and a Master’s Degree in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. He then attended the Medical College of Georgia.
“The satisfaction of helping someone during the most vulnerable time of their lives and helping them return to their families and loved ones, rejuvenated, is the reason why I wanted to practice medicine,” Alykhan shares. “My hope is to bring more evidence-based clinical care practices to underserved areas around the world.”
“I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare when I was in kindergarten, in an effort to be like my mother” Tanya reflects. “My oncologic patients give me more than I can give them. They give me comfort, hope, and a will to live and work.”
