19 July,2014 09:15 AM IST | | Anuradha Varanasi
The 17-year-old who lost her arms in a tragic train mishap in January was discharged last evening after a six-month long hospital stay
After spending over six months in the civic-run KEM Hospital in Parel, 17-year-old Monika More finally got the all clear to step out of the hospital ward, around 8 pm last evening. More, who lost both her arms in a train mishap at Ghatkopar station on January 11, has a lot to be thankful for, and more to be proud of.
Also read: Monika More to be discharged from KEM Hospital
Mayor Sunil Prabhu met Monika in the Dean's office of KEM Hospital yesterday, hours before she was discharged
Her myoelectric prosthetic arms, which allow her to write and perform complex activities like typing and eating, will allow her to acquire a great degree of autonomy in her daily life. She can also eat food without assistance, a skill she has mastered after several months of training and practice with her prosthetic arms.
Ashok More, Monika's father, displays the specially designed spoon and fork manufactured for Monika by German manufacturing company Ottobock. This will allow her to eat without spilling
Ottobock, the German manufacturing company that provided the prosthetic arms, recently designed a special spoon and fork set for More, curved at the centre and with customised handles. "It is designed to give greater balance. She has been using the spoon and fork for a while now, and there is absolutely no spillage," said Ashok More, Monika's father.
"We are happy to see her eat her rice, daal and even some vegetables with the spoon and fork. But she still finds the prosthetic arms heavy and complains of a slight pain at her elbows, where both the arms were amputated," he added.
Since Thursday, Monika's room in the general orthopaedic ward was guarded by the hospital's security officials, deployed to control the slew of visitors who keep showing up to congratulate the teenager who has, in recent months, become the face of the city's commuting woes. While the family received nearly Rs 34 lakh from citizens following the public outcry over the tragic accident, the BMC paid Rs 23 lakh for her prosthetic arms.
Also read: Monika More crosses another milestone, writes names of her loved ones
"Doctors have informed us that she is fit for discharge and all of us are relieved. After spending such a long time in the hospital, a normal life is what we look forward to," said Ashok, a Kurla resident. Having passed her Std XI exams, More is looking forward to rejoining college now. She is expected to start attending lectures at SNDT College, Ghatkopar, where she is studying Commerce.
Dr Pradeep Bhosale, head of the Orthopaedics department, said that the braveheart is now able to write two whole pages at a go, and will be able to start typing and holding smaller objects with the prosthesis, after a year of training.
