Post-op with Lakshmi and the Tatmas in Bangalore
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Sam Relph |
|---|---|
| Associate Producer |
Emotions flew thick and fast once it was clear Lakshmi’s operation had been a success.
For the team of surgeons the relief was immediate and joyous – they understood immediately that the most dangerous phase was over and, by the time Lakshmi was out of surgery, there were hugs and handshakes all round. It was a top-notch team of doctors and they knew they had done well.
For the film crew, it took a few hours for the relief to set in and the nerves to die down. It was almost like things had gone too well.
As the producer, Sneh had arranged for the family to meet Dr Patil. She had set up the surgery and felt responsibility for Lakshmi more than the rest of us.
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| Lakshmi and her family prior to surgery |
| Preview the story before it airs. |
| To Donate to Lakshmi's Aftercare Fund Click here |
Normally, you tell yourself it is work and leave the emotions at the door. But Lakshmi was no job. We had all become attached to her. We knew that if something had gone wrong, we would never have been able to forgive ourselves. That’s certainly how I felt.
The fact that a young girls’ life was hanging in the balance weighed heavily on everyone – more so than in any other project any of us had been involved in.
What we were feeling, however, was nothing. It is hard to put into words the effect Lakshmi’s surgery had on her mother. Poonam had been staunchly in favour of surgery all along – she knew it was the only chance her daughter would have of a normal life. She was strong when others questioned if an operation was the correct option; she was in high spirits when the rest of us felt timid; she was the backbone of her family.
And then she crumbled. As Lakshmi was wheeled unconscious towards the operating theatre Poonam broke down and didn’t recover for five days. She didn’t eat. She didn’t sleep. She couldn’t be comforted.
She was seven months pregnant with her third child. She was in tears or shock the entire time. It was hard to face her.
The press interest was intense throughout Lakshmi’s surgery – TV vans, cameras, photographers and reporters were camped outside for most of the 27 hours of the operation. Shambu, who was holding himself together remarkably well considering the circumstances, was dragged downstairs every few hours to give updates on his daughter’s progress. He didn’t know much. There wasn’t much he could say. No one knew if Lakshmi would survive or not – and if she did, what state she would be in.
And then it was over.
I’d gone back to the hotel around 3am, expecting the operation to last another ten hours or more, trying to grab a few hours sleep before another day of wondering and worrying. I woke up at 6am and phoned Paul, who I knew, as the director, would be up through the night. Lakshmi was safe. She was out of theatre, out of the danger zone, stable. The next 24 hours would be critical but it was looking good.
Despite the success of the operation the speed of Lakhmi’s recovery astonished us all, including the doctors. Within two days her wounds had started healing with almost no sign of infection. She wasn’t in obvious pain and didn’t seem to need too many painkillers. By November 9, two days after the operation, she was off the ventilator and eating again. It was astonishing.
There were concerns about Lakshmi’s psychological state post-op – after all, half her body had been amputated. There were fears she would struggle with the loss of her limbs – she might have to relearn how to move and crawl from scratch. Her balance was likely to be affected.
She proved every expert wrong. When Poonam asked Lakshmi, very early in her recovery, where her extra limbs had gone, this remarkable two-year-old erupted into a beaming smile – her extra limbs were gone and she knew it. She immediately and instinctively knew she was suddenly like other children. Her response? She made walking signs with two fingers.
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19 Comments
i can't wait to see this story she is a beautiful little girl and i'm glad that they were able to help her
those r some amazin people and they deserve to br congradulated on a human level and not jus becuase they took this high profile cas. congrats
It is so nice that medical science has come so far. I am glad that this young girl is the beneficiary of this medical marvel. I pray for the family as well as those who performed the surgery. May God continually bless you all. Wouldn't it be nice if she grew up to be a doctor and helped someone else the way these doctors and interest participants have helped her. She looks so bright despite what she has been through.
ohhh.my gosh.
I think she is a beautiful little girl. Praise and all do respect to the lord above for providing the doctors with accurate knowledge of how to help her. This world and people are amazing. God bless this little girl and her family.
Wow! I can't believe that someone was actually smart enough to take apart a conjoined twin. I'm so happy for the little girl. I hope she DOES lead a normal life. :)
As a mother, I have been so touched by this sweet girls story. My son is 2 years old and I look at him now with great thanks that he was born healthy. I give all of my love and prayers to this sweet baby girl, and to her mother. You will be in my heart 4 ever.
what a miraculous beautiful little girl!
she truly has been touched by her namesake. i will continue to pray for the family and look to this small brave little girl for inspiration.
I was seriously moved by the story of Nunu to the extent of shedding tears at the beginning of the program. But I am pleased and very happy that it all ended very well for her and her parents.
The surgeons who performed the operations are true professionals in my opinion.
Happy for Lakshmi and her family. Amazed at modern science. I wish her all the best and congratulations to the team who gave her a chance at a "normal" life.
Missed the broadcast of this program--please let me know when it will be on again.
Thanks.
oh i am so glad that she was okay.may god bless her and those who have same kind of problem.thank you so much who help her and her family.
Deborah Pruitte
I missed the airing also but i would like to say for the team of doctors on what a great job you did for that little girl. I know you could fix my daughter she was born a deformity of the bone wher her back bone did not develop under the back muscle, which cause her neck to be short and left side with no shoulder.
Thanks
I had to say when I saw this documentation I was amazed. How a family with strong religious conviction, allow modern science to correct a mishap of nature. It was amazing to see how the doctors has compassion and understanding with regards to the family and patient. It was also great to see the bravery in the family, especially the mother and the little girl, throughout the program all you did was see her smile. I pray she gets better and the family are happy in their new location. Thumbs up to the medical providers for their interested and care.
It's a wonderful thing not only that medical science has progressed to this extent, but that the parents of the little girl were willing to put their trust in modern medical science and the objective of giving their daughter the chance of a normal life, especially in an atmosphere in which many were arguing against the surgery on the basis of a religious belief about the child's identity as an incarnation. This is an extremely difficult situation for anyone to be in, and I am very glad for all concerned that the little girl's chance for a normal life was the choice that prevailed--and that the surgery was successful. Praise be, to whatever name you use to address that which is beyond ourselves.
I would like to congratulate all the doctor on a job well done...
i have a story for lock up abroad
I was shocked to see her because personally I have never seen anyone born with a parasitic twin. I than God someone can forward to help them. May God give her and her family a good life. I would love to see the post op documentary
A beautiful family and loving child.
This story was truly amazing and Lakshmi had such a loving spirit, I was seriously afraid for her and I could see that her parents had a horrible decision to make and I would not want to ever have to make a decision such as that one.
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