My Strong Patient

This was in my post graduate training days.. a 7 years girl, Yasmitha (name changed) who came to PGI with symptoms of fever of 2 days and then unable to move hands and feet after 1 day of fever.

When she came to PGI in emergency room, though she was conscious, she was unable to move her hands and feet well and even when we examined her in Emergency room, found that her consciousness was gradually waning breathing was becoming shallow.

The clinical examination and reports were suggestive of a condition called Brainstem encephalitis. We had to keep the child in ICU and do mechanical ventilation and medicines like immunoglobulins and steroids. After a long battle of 10 days, she gradually stabilized, but we had to place a tube called tracheostomy tube for easy breathing and when needed to attach Ventilator.

Interesting thing about this girl is that- She understood the emotional pain that her parents went through during all the days in hospital and whenever she has pain while sampling or when hungry also – she never disturbs or calls her parents, instead she silently sheds her tears.

It was during sending a blood sample, when I pricked her and was about to call her mother to hold her, she silently nodded implying dont disturb my mother, let her rest. It was at that moment I realized, maturity doesn’t just come with age, its within and I witnessed Godly strength in Her.