Inspiring medical miracles in India you need to know about this week

People face many health challenges every day and many times they become really severe While the severity may differ it is always disheartening to hear This has changed over the years owing to medical advances not only around the world but also in India people are able to get treated successfully in timeThese medical cases are inspiring not only for the ones undergoing treatment but also for their families as they navigate their lives around them While one highlights a womans important journey in getting diagnosed with superficial endometriosis and kissing ovaries the other highlights a child finding a ray of hope in his thalassemia treatment and meeting his donorHere are two cases from this weekPune woman successfully treated for superficial Endometriosis and Kissing OvariesMeenal name changed an IT professional began experiencing persistent lower back pain in 2020 Assuming it was due to her desk job and prolonged sitting she ignored the pain As the pain worsened she decided to consult an orthopedic specialist but no issues were identified Suspecting kidney stones she underwent further tests but those results were clear as well Despite experiencing severe period pain she initially relied on painkillers assuming it was normalFurther investigation by a gynecologist revealed two ovarian cysts with additional scans raising concerns about a possible tumour Seeking a second opinion Meenal consulted Dr Wing Commander Sushil D Garud Retd consultant Obstetrics Gynecology and Laparoscopic Surgery at Motherhood Hospitals in Kharadi PuneMeenal sharing her experience said During my tests for kidney stones doctors discovered two cysts but I had very little awareness about what that meant Further advanced tests suggested the possibility of a tumor which left me extremely anxious Seeking a second opinion I consulted Dr Sushil He advised a biopsy first which thankfully ruled out cancer It was then confirmed that I had a rare condition known as kissing ovaries and the endometrial tissue had spread to my peritoneal lining and bladder She adds This condition caused severe discomfort particularly with frequent urination I would wake up 34 times every night to use the washroom and the constant sensation of needing to urinate left me exhausted I was barely sleeping 23 hours each night The continuous pain and discomfort made it extremely difficult to focus on my job and eventually I had to quitDr Sushil then conducted a detailed evaluation An MRI revealed her condition was more complex mdash her ovaries were stuck together in a condition known as kissing ovariesrdquo and were attached to the back of her uterus Further investigations identified two ovarian cysts mdash one measuring 5x6 cm on the right ovary and another measuring 3x4 cm on the left ovaryAdditionally parts of her intestine were adhered to the cysts a condition linked to superficial endometriosis also known as peritoneal endometriosis where the endometrial lining extends outside the uterus and implants on the peritoneum mdash the thin layer of tissue lining the abdominal cavity and covering the abdominal organs The space behind the uterus called the Pouch of Douglas POD a common site for endometriosis growth was also blockedDr Sushil performed a highly specialised laparoscopic surgery that lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes during which he successfully removed the ovarian cysts and endometrial implants from her abdomen Complete removal was essential because simply puncturing cysts or burning plaques wouldnrsquot stop the pain or prevent further tissue damage Since the peritoneum is flexible the affected parts were carefully removed to ensure effective treatment With proper removal endometrial plaques can keep accumulating leading to cysts that grow larger with each menstrual cycle due to trapped bloodFollowing her surgery Meenal experienced significant pain relief marking a positive turning point in her journey She shares Two months ago I underwent surgery and felt immense relief afterward I am now recovering well Ive been advised to take things slow prioritise rest maintain a proper diet and ensure enough sleepPostsurgery Meenal was advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle avoid junk food improve her sleep routine and continue hormonal therapy if she plans to delay conceptionEndometriosis affects around 10 per cent of women and up to 50 per cent of those struggling with infertility yet its symptoms are often overlooked said Dr Sushil Surgical intervention requires expertise mdash simply removing cysts is not enough To effectively reduce pain and prevent recurrence excising endometrial implants from all affected areas is crucial Timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment play a vital role in improving outcomes for women facing this challenging conditionrdquo he addsAdding to that the Punebased doctor said Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus often causing severe pain and fertility issues Women should not ignore persistent symptoms like intense period pain painful intercourse or unexplained infertility as these could be signs of endometriosis If left untreated it can lead to complications such as blocked fallopian tubes ovarian cysts and even impact fertility Alarmingly even adolescents are increasingly being diagnosed with this condition making early awareness and timely medical intervention crucial for effective management and improved outcomesShe concludes My advice to all women is this never ignore even the slightest symptoms Period pain constant back pain or unusual discomfort should never be overlooked It could be a sign of something serious and seeking timely medical advice can make all the difference Prioritise your health mdash dont wait until the pain becomes unbearable12yearold Thalassemia survivor meets his stem cell donor in DelhiIn another heartwarming medical tale 12yearold Thalassemia survivor Pratham from Bikaner for the first time met the man who gave him a second chance at life The stem cell donor is 35yearold Rohit from KanpurThe donor a pharmaceutical management consultant was inspired to register with DKMS Foundation India a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders after watching the Bollywood film The Sky is Pink which depicts the struggles of a family with a child with a lifethreatening illnessThalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes the body to have less haemoglobin than normal This can lead to anaemia fatigue and other serious health problems A stem cell transplant can offer a potential cure for thalassemia patients replacing their damaged bloodforming cells with healthy ones from a donorDr Esha Kaul director ndash Hematology HematoOncology BMT from Max Super Specialty Hospital in Vaishali Ghaziabad says ldquoThalassemia continues to place an immense physical and emotional burden on children and their families especially in India where the incidence remains among the highest globally While blood transfusions are a temporary solution stem cell transplantation offers the only curative path forward For many patients without a matching sibling a matched unrelated donor MUD transplant becomes their only lifeline The challenge however lies in finding that oneinamillion matchDiagnosed at just six months of age Pratham spent much of his early life undergoing frequent and distressing blood transfusions For nearly seven years his family searched tirelessly for a matching stem cell donor never giving up hope That hope turned into reality when on his motherrsquos birthday the family received a call informing them that a perfect match had been found through DKMS Foundation IndiaThat match was 35yearold Rohit who had registered as a donor during the Covid19 pandemic after being inspired by a film which mentions information about DKMS in its credits He registered online and ordered a home swab kit and eight months later was identified as the lifesaving match for PrathamldquoWhen Pratham first came to us he was very young and playful We gave him all the support and treatment but a stem cell transplant was his only curative option Luckily he found a matched unrelated donor and we could proceed with the stem cell transplant His story is a powerful reminder that thalassemia can be effectively managed with early diagnosis and the proper medical interventionsrdquo shared Dr Vikram Mathews director CMC Professor of Haematology Department of Haematology Christian Medical College Vellore who treated himThe meeting between Pratham and Rohit was an emotional and joyous occasion filled with tears of gratitude and heartfelt appreciation Pratham and his family expressed their profound thanks to Rohit for giving them a second chance at lifeSeeing Pratham smile in person was overwhelming said Rohit who met Pratham in Delhi for the first time I feel proud to have helped in this small but meaningful wayldquoThanks to Rohitrsquos kindness I no longer need blood transfusions or painful needle pricks I feel strong and happyrdquo expressed Pratham who now attends school regularly participates in extracurricular activities and pursues his love for cricketRohits stem cell donation starting with a simple cheek swab cured Prathams thalassemia and their emotional reunion celebrated this lifechanging gift of hope and selflessnessIndia sees over 10000 children born with thalassemia each year Regular transfusions are the norm for many but a blood stem cell transplant remains the only curative option However the availability of matching donors especially from Indian ethnic backgrounds is critically lowatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params