Howrah, 14 May 2025: In an extraordinary display of grit and medical excellence, a 7-year-old girl has survived life-threatening injuries sustained in a catastrophic road traffic accident (RTA) in Howrah. Despite overwhelming odds, the young girl battled through critical injuries and a near-death experience to make a remarkable recovery.
The child was rushed to Narayana Hospital in a state of severe shock, having sustained multiple catastrophic injuries, including a severe lung contusion, liver laceration, kidney and urethral damage, pelvic fracture, and a major degloving injury to her right thigh. The complexity of her injuries required urgent care from a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Shubhadeep Das, Clinical Lead & Senior Consultant in Paediatric Critical Care, along with Dr. Gautam Chakraborty (Paediatric & Neonatal Surgery), Dr. Atul Srivastava (Orthopaedics), and Dr. Aditya Kanol (Plastic Surgery).
The first 12 hours were critical. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and doctors considered putting her on advanced life-support (ECMO). During emergency surgery, the team discovered her bladder was dangerously swollen due to internal blood clots. She was also in hypovolemic shock, a life-threatening condition where the body lacks sufficient blood for vital organ function.
Dr. Chakraborty explained, “She had bizarre and rare internal injuries. We found a huge urinary bladder filled with massive blood clots compressing major abdominal veins. We had to evacuate the clots and perform a urinary bypass to save her life.”
Following the emergency surgery, the child remained in intensive care battling infections, pneumonia, and sepsis. After four weeks of intense treatment and care from a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and therapists, she began to recover. On March 8th, her 7th birthday was celebrated in the ICU, marking a joyful milestone in her journey.
Eleven days later, on March 19th, she was discharged — a moment filled with emotion, smiles, and tears. Although her rehabilitation continues with skin grafting and therapy, she has already made incredible progress and is now able to sit and smile again.
Her story is not just one of survival, but a powerful reminder of resilience, the power of modern medicine, and the human spirit.
