to Shaheen, with love

I am pasting a 23/9 Indian Express report, “CMRI docs give 12-yr-old new grasp on life” ~

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In a rare surgery, a team of doctors at the Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI) re-implanted the right hand of a 12-year-old girl after her forearm was separated from the elbow, following an accident.

The mishap occurred on September 13 when Shaheen Lodha, a resident of Colootala Street, was playing with a hydraulic machine when alone at home. She put her hand in the machine and switched it on only to realise soon that her hand was stuck. Hearing her daughter’s screams, Amna Lodha rushed in to find Shaheen’s right hand stuck precariously in the machine. All efforts notwithstanding, Shaheen’s hand was ripped into two halves — the hand and the arm bone came out separately from the machine.

“We rushed her to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital but nobody helped us there. After a dressing, a doctor asked us to throw the amputated hand in the bin. An orthopaedic surgeon there later asked us to visit the CMRI,” said Shaheen’s father, Gulzara Ahmed Lodha.

Admitted to CMRI, a team of three doctors operated on Shaheen. Anupam Golash, consultant surgeon at CMRI, said Shaheen’s arm was completely separated from her elbow and there were several fractures. Her right hand and forearm muscles were viable and after an operation spanning nearly five hours, the nerves and muscles were repaired.

It will take some time before blood circulation becomes active. She has been kept under close observation in the paediatric ward. The re-implantation procedure has been completed and skin grafting needs to be done, said Golash, adding that it will take nearly a year for Shaheen’s hand to function normally.
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I went to CMRI today with my cousin who needed a clinical dressing in the Minor OT. I came across the girl and felt myself above all divinities. She was jubilant and always wore a divine smile as sparkling jewel on her face. No one had a heart to deny that she looked storm-swept. Her right hand was hung with a sling. Still her smiling face gave a feel that anybody can fight away death with vivacity – the best weapon of life. She will have to go through a major operation.

I thought to write for my blog today. My mind says there would have been no other subject more thrilling than this one.

Thanks to the Indian Express report, I became familiar with the magic-in-hand-man Dr. Anupam Golash, who coincidentally operated on my cousin's bruised right hand later on.

I am thankful to this report and the central character of the report. I wish her a speedy recovery. I give all credits to the panel of doctors.