1.Dr. Smita Bhatt (B.H.M.S)
She lived to serve, fought against all odds, and left behind an inspiring story of courage, compassion, and an undying love for humanity.
Some people choose their profession; for others, their profession chooses them. My mother, Dr. Smita Bhatt, was one of the latter—born with a healer’s heart, she embraced her calling with relentless dedication. A doctor, a mother, a fighter—she balanced it all. But destiny had one final, unimaginable test for her. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, her commitment to her patients remained unwavering, even as it put her own life at risk. This is her story—a story of resilience, sacrifice, and an unbreakable spirit.
A Childhood Dream Carved in Stone:
From a young age, my mother was determined to become a doctor. Growing up in a Gujarati family, she watched many girls around her settle for conventional paths, but she had other plans. She was the kind of student who wouldn’t sleep until she finished every single page of a textbook.
She wasn’t just brilliant—she was unstoppable. She topped her school in Vadodara, Gujarat, secured admission to Anand Homeopathic Medical College, and dedicated herself to medicine. She had one goal: to heal people.
I’ve often heard stories from her college friends about how she balanced her rigorous studies with the kind of friendships that lasted a lifetime. Her laughter filled classrooms, but her focus never wavered.
From Fairytale to Storm: Marriage and Domestic Struggles:
Like many daughters in traditional families, she got married right after her internship to my father, Dr. Mahesh Bhatt. The first year and a half was blissful—a dream marriage where love and ambition thrived side by side.
But then, reality hit.
Family chaos, constant arguments, and a home filled with tension replaced the warmth she once knew. Imagine coming home exhausted after treating patients all day, only to be pulled into family fights that had no resolution.
She had two choices: give up or keep going. She chose to keep going.
She found her strength in two things:
1. Her daughters—me and my sister, Dr. Disha Kanitkar.
2. Her profession—her one true calling.
Even in the toughest moments, she never let personal struggles impact her patients. No one saw the tears she wiped away before stepping into her clinic, wearing the smile that comforted her patients.
A Doctor Beyond Medicine: The Heart of a Healer:
She wasn’t just a doctor; she was a lifeline to the people who walked into her clinic.
She co-founded Disha’s Clinic with my father, blending Ayurveda and Homeopathy to treat patients in ways that weren’t common back then. But over time, she decided to stand on her own feet.
She opened her own clinic in Vasna Bhayli, Vadodara—a small space that soon became a haven for people in pain. Patients didn’t just visit her for medicine; they came to her with their fears, worries, and heartbreaks.
She was their doctor, therapist, and friend.
1. A widow struggling alone? My mother gave her emotional support.
2. A young girl suffering from anxiety? My mother helped her regain confidence.
3. A father worried about his child’s future? My mother gave advice like family.
Her clinic wasn’t just a workplace. It was her second home.
The Pandemic: Her Biggest Battle:
Everything changed in 2020 when COVID-19 turned the world upside down.
She was diabetic, a high-risk patient, and we begged her to stay home. She listened during the first wave. But when the second wave arrived in March 2021, she couldn’t bear to see her patients suffer alone.
“I’ve treated them for years. How can I abandon them now?”
Her vaccination was scheduled for the end of March. But before she could receive it, she caught a minor fever. She still went to her clinic, convincing herself it was nothing serious. She tested negative for COVID-19.
Then, on March 26, 2021, she returned home gasping for breath.
We rushed her to Gotri Medical Hospital, Vadodara. Doctors found that pneumonia had spread in her lungs. Her sugar levels were unstable, and her body was weakening.
“She’ll recover,” they told us.
By the evening of March 27, pneumonia had consumed 70% of her lungs. Her body couldn’t take it anymore.
At 7:00 PM, she left us. And just like that, the woman who healed hundreds of lives was gone.
Her Legacy Lives On:
She left behind more than memories—she left behind strength, courage, and purpose. Because of her, my sister and I didn’t just dream—we achieved.
She lived by values that can never be erased:
✔ Hard work.
✔ Compassion.
✔ Sacrifice.
✔ Resilience.
She was a strict mother but a loving one, a skilled doctor but an amazing cook, a woman who gave everything yet asked for nothing.
She worked till the night before she died, proving that true passion never fades.
Some heroes wear capes. Others wear white coats and serve till their last breath.
My mother was one of them.
And even in her absence, she continues to heal the world.
