Srinagar: Even as the prevalent conditions unleashed “worst-ever humanitarian crises” in Kashmir, for this abandoned infant born with neurological ailment, the unrest brought hope for a new lease of life.
The 7-month-old Salman has been successfully operated upon for a serious congenital ailment, which was putting pressure on his brain and was feared to cause death. Doctors said over the past few months Salman’s condition was not well as his ailment grew with each passing day.
Though most of the hospitals in Kashmir have cancelled routine consultations in the wake of uprising, which left at least 86 dead and over 12,000 wounded since July 8 when militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani and his two associates were killed, doctors at SMHS Hospital found it opportune time to discuss and tackle it, alike.
“Basically the OPD had been off and doctors found enough time to discuss at length the case of this patient and to go for this delicate surgery, which had not taken place for such a young patient at this hospital before,” said a medico.
After threadbare discussions under the leadership of noted neurosurgeon Dr Afzal Wani, the medicos decided to operate upon the case in consultation with the Principal Government Medical College(GMC), Srinagar, Dr Qaisar Ahmed, who gave a go ahead.
The baby was subsequently admitted in SMHS hospital on September 22 and was operated upon the next day.
The baby, recovering well, is presently in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of this hospital and is taken care of by the hospital staff.
Talking to Kashmir Observer, Principal GMC said the surgery has been successful even as he hailed Dr Wani and his team for the achievement.
He said the “beauty of GMC associated hospitals” during the prevalent conditions has been that despite challenges not a single case of surgery was left untended. “We have been working hard and this fresh success has brought more of satisfaction,” Dr Qaisar said.
Earlier this year on February 24, this baby was brought to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the GB Panth Hospital by Police Station Nowhatta in “hypothermic condition.”
The baby with “encephalocele on the bridge of nose” had been found at the shrine of Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom Sahab (RA), Srinagar. He was admitted in NICU under MRD no 18159/III-A. “Investigations were done which showed dilated ventricles with large cystic lesion (5 x 3 cm). In addition, it was found that the cystic lesion over the face is communicating with the brain and was diagnosed as Frontal Encephalocelem,” the doctors said.
The then medical superintendent GB Panth Hospital, Dr Shafqat Khan had called an emergency meeting taking the case as a challenge.
The baby was treated for initial complaints in NICU of the hospital for 20 days and then shifted to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre where staff of NRC under the supervision of Dr Rehana and Dr Iram, who took constant care of the baby since.
Doctors said after recovering from surgery he would be brought back to the GB Hospital as till now despite repeated appeals nobody came forward to adopt the baby. “He will continue to live here like our family member,” said a medico.
Meanwhile the medicos looking after the baby have prayed for his speedy recovery.
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