India: “Jubilation and wonder” at 10-year-old Piyush’s recovery

When 10-year-old Piyush was first brought to Chinchpada Christian Hospital, he couldn’t move his limbs and was struggling to breathe.

Just getting Piyush to the hospital was an incredible feat. Piyush comes from an extremely remote and impoverished tribal community in the Dhadgaon area. It took over four hours to bring him, winding through mountains and jungle.

When they finally arrived, he was quickly intubated and put on ventilatory support. He had acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, also commonly known as Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). This disease has a  high mortality rate when not treated quickly and intensively in a critical care unit. “It is catastrophic,” says Dr Jibi John.

Just getting the medication Piyush needed required a journey to Surat, the closest big city to Chinchpada. Alongside medication, Piyush remained on a ventilator for nearly two months. “We remember so many anxious days and nights when we thought we would lose him, but God came through for us,” says Dr Jibi.

After 68 days in the hospital, Piyush was finally able to go home. He could sit up in bed and move his limbs, though he still needed foot splints and to follow a strict physiotherapy programme. He has returned to the hospital as an out-patient every month for follow up.

Dr Jibi says, “He is progressively improving. He was able to walk with little support in his last follow-up visit with us. Each time the family visits, there is jubilation and wonder at the amazing progress he is making.”

A light in the darkness

Piyush is just one of hundreds of patients who have been cared for in the new ICU, which was built with funding from MAI supporters, alongside a new General Ward. Just over a year after it opened, Dr Jibi reflects on the difference it has made:

“Our hearts are full when we get to work in the new ICU and care for our patients. Nearly all our patients are tribal and many suffer from extreme poverty, illiteracy, limited healthcare access and poor living conditions, resulting in a high burden of acute and chronic diseases.

“As they grope in darkness, devoid of affordable, ethical care in this remote place, the new ICU and General Ward have shone light in this very darkness and given wind to our sails to provide the best care to these precious ones.

“Our patients come to us with all their hopes and trust in us, without a plan B, for lack of options of other health facilities. This inspires us to galvanise our efforts to care for them well and treat them with the love and dignity they so richly deserve.

“We are immensely grateful for your help, support and prayers. Piyush’s story of healing and all other such stories, told and untold, would not have been possible without your generous hearts and divine, active concern for the poor, the weak and the oppressed.”