18 September,2014 08:58 AM IST | | Anuradha Varanasi
Samruddhi Nagte, whose left leg was amputated after she was injured in the Diva-Sawantwadi express train derailment, will get her first prosthetic leg next week
Four months after the Diva-Sawantwadi express train derailment, four-year-old Samruddhi Nagte, who lost her mother in the mishap and had her left leg amputated, finally has a reason to smile. The young girl is expected to get her first prosthetic leg in the coming week.
The four-year-old's left leg had to be amputated after the derailment in May
After Samruddhi was discharged from Sion hospital, where she underwent extensive treatment following the amputation, Dr Suleman Merchant, head of the radiology department had set up a trust fund for the girl. Samruddhi and her five-year-old sister Janhavee will soon start their education at Nerul's MGM School, where they were recently given admission. She is currently undergoing physiotherapy sessions at MGM hospital in Kamothe, Navi Mumbai.
mid-day's report on the family on May 5
"Samruddhi is responding well and has started walking with the help of support. An MNC called Endolite is designing an exoskeleton-based prosthetic leg, which costs around Rs 50,000.
The fitting should be complete in a week's time, after which she can start practising to walk," said Dr Merchant. Dr Ken McRae, a London-based prosthetist is providing consultation to the four-year-old and Dr Merchant on the best prosthesis, which will suit her requirements. He also visited the city recently to meet the patient.
"Once her limbs achieve full growth, a sophisticated prosthetic leg will be made for her. Till then, she will be given an endoskeleton-based prosthesis after this one," added Dr Merchant. The Diva-Sawantwadi express train derailment, which took place on May 3, claimed 18 lives, including that of Samruddhi's mother, and injured 124.
After the four-year-old was admitted to Sion hospital with the injured leg, doctors had to amputate it from the knee down to save the rest of the leg. Samruddhi's father, Jairam, had also sustained severe fractures on his arm and shoulder. He plans to approach railway authorities for a job that will help him support his three daughters.
Dr Merchant added that many people, including activists, have come forward to support and donate for Samruddhi and her future. The doctor hopes that with the support from people and the government, they will not only be able to help her, but also secure the future of her siblings by giving quality education to them.
