Giridh, Jharkhand, a charming town tucked away in the hills, is the setting for a moving story about bravery and the enduring power of humanity. The 5-year-old Gitanjali Kumari’s innocent grins and giggles vanished instantly, a devastating turn of events. As the neighborhood was getting into the Christmas mood on December 25, 2023, tiny Gitanjali had an accident while riding the bike with her parents. She suffered serious face injuries after being thrown onto the road by a truck that crashed into the back of their bike. Her parents took her to the closest hospital in a hurry, where they started resuscitation procedures right away.

She was quickly admitted under the supervision of Dr. Akhilesh Kumar Agarwal, Consultant, Department of Plastic Surgery, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, on December 26 after it was determined that she needed specialized care. Little Gitanjali experienced a wonderful healing journey against all odds after undergoing difficult surgery, a two-hour-long facial reconstructive procedure, and around five weeks of rehabilitation.

The restorative surgeries were done by Dr. Agarwal and the team of doctors consisting of Dr. Nicola Judith Flynn, MD, Head of Department – Paediatrics, and Neonatology, Medica Superspecialty, and Dr. Sunandan Basu, Senior Consultant, Brain and Spine Surgeon at Medica Institute of Neurological Diseases (MIND).

Gitanjali’s parents had a very uncertain future ahead of them. Her mother, Pammy Devi, stays at home while her father, Vikas Gupta, is a hawker. The financial burden of carrying out the essential operations was too much for them to handle. The hospital administration at Medica persevered in their one and only goal of supporting the courageous soul during the trial. Over the course of five weeks, Gitanjali had substantial facial restoration and rehabilitation and showed impressive post-surgery development. Notably, her nasal structures have been successfully rebuilt, which was a big concern for her parents. She can now open and close her eyes.

Dr. Akhilesh Kumar Agarwal said, “Protecting her vision, which was impaired by the avulsion from the eye socket, was one of the most important parts of her treatment. It was critical to act quickly to save the eyes from prolonged exposure, which could have caused lasting damage. Thank goodness, prompt medical attention preserved Gitanjali’s vision by ensuring that she could continue to keep her eyes open”.

Gitanjali’s experience serves as a reminder that Medica provides patients with treatment and assistance when needed.

Priyanka Dutta