SUCCESS STORIES
OUR 1000th SURGERY
Savita Shashikant Remje is from the tiny village of Ainekher near Chiplun. Since her childhood, she has had to face tough situations that most of us can only imagine. Being uneducated, she did laborious jobs, cleaning yards, gathering cashew nuts, weeding the fields—doing whatever it took to feed the stomachs of her family. Something she could not get through was the excruciating pain in her left leg that gnawed at her every step. Still, she pushed, refusing to rest because her family needed her. She began walking with the help of a stick when the pain became too unbearable. And after two long years, she was bedridden, unable to move an inch due to the intense pain.
That’s when destiny stepped in. Her son Sushant, working at V.N. Desai Hospital, reached out to the Spine Foundation for help. Moved by her plight, the doctors stepped in without hesitation. When she turned out to be the 1000th patient treated for free by the Spine Foundation, Savita’s journey became nothing less than a miracle. Her story reminds all of us that somewhere amongst struggles lies the resilience of the human spirit. Today, she stands as a symbol of hope, inspiring everyone who comes across her story.
PEDIATRIC MIRACLE
Atharva Mangave is a boy from Narsobawadi, a village 50 kilometers from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. Born with a congenital defect of the chest wall, Atharva’s case was quite complicated. It wasn’t just his spine that had been affected; his lungs were also struggling, causing frequent infections. His condition was so severe that there was no easy solution at hand. But despite all the challenges, Atharva’s courage never wavered.
Recognizing this, the medical team, headed by Dr. Abhay Nene, decided to take the innovative approach of placing growth rods in his spine. Independent rods would support both his spinal column and lungs, maintaining proper spinal alignment as he continued to grow. Atharva used to visit the hospital regularly, once every six months until he reached the age of seven, and once a year until he turned eleven.
OVERCOMING PARAPLEGIA
In 2018, Neeraj Tiwari’s life changed when a tragic accident fractured his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. After surgery, he lost motor control in his lower limbs and suffered sensory deprivation. Financial difficulties led to his transfer to V.N. Desai Hospital for rehabilitation.
The Spine Foundation’s Rehab Team, led by Dr. Gaurish Kenkre, set small, achievable goals to work on his control, balance, and upper body strength. Their efforts helped Neeraj reach a major milestone: sitting independently and regaining control over daily activities.
Using a mix of techniques and adaptive equipment, Neeraj progressed from standing with support to walking with minimal assistance. His muscle strength improved drastically, and now he walks with minimal support.
BEATING TB SPONDYLODISCITIS AND PARAPLEGIA
Reshma Khan, 22, from Kandivali, arrived at V.N. Desai Hospital in a dire state. Neglected TB spondylodiscitis had compressed her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed below the waist and without control over her bladder and bowel functions. An MRI confirmed tuberculosis of the spine with severe spinal cord compression. The Spine Foundation team acted quickly, performing a rare surgery involving spine decompression and Hartshill fixation. Just ten days later, Reshma walked with minimal support.
Reshma’s recovery from near-paralysis to mobility shows the power of expert medical care combined with willpower. Her story, like many at the Spine Foundation, highlights the hope and transformation healthcare can bring.
