The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 3-year-old battling for life

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 06, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

3-year-old battling for life

Staff Reporter

James was run over by a truck while he was playing

Bangalore: Life has almost come to a standstill for three-year-old James.

The boy, who comes from a poor family, was badly injured when a truck ran over him last week while he was playing in front of his house.

James is now fighting for his life at Manipal Hospital.

The child's left hip, leg and foot were crushed in the accident, and he is unable to pass stools because of an injury to his anus, according to hospital authorities.

A team of doctors, comprising Radhakrishnan, paediatric surgeon, Ashok B.C., plastic surgeon, and K.M.K. Varma, orthopaedic surgeon, is treating the child. It will be a long struggle for James who will have to undergo many surgeries before there is a semblance of normalcy in his day-to-day life.

Leg amputated

"His left leg had to be amputated because it was crushed. Another surgery was done to give some shape to his hips. Since he could not pass his stools, surgeons at the hospital did a colostomy (an incision into the large intestine to create an artificial opening to the exterior of the abdomen. This opening serves as a substitute anus through which the intestines can eliminate waste products)," the hospital authorities said. The injured abdomen was filled with mud and an operation will have to be conducted to close the open wound.

Even though the doctors and the hospital have waived the fees and other costs, the total cost of surgery will be Rs.1.5 lakh.

James's parents could mobilise only Rs. 20,000. James is also in need of `O' positive blood. Those who want to help this child or donate blood may contact the Medical Social Work Department at the hospital on 25024444/25268901.

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