Kuramma, probably around 30 yrs of age, was pregnant for the 6th time! She had consistently refused to go to any hospital for ante-natal care or even allow health workers to examine her. She lived with her drunkard husband and 5 children in one of the most remote colonies of H.D.Kote Taluk called Dammana Katte in Nagarhole Forest area.On 11th August, Kuramma started bleeding profusely. She probably was in her 8th month of pregnancy. Her husband did not bother to do any thing about it. Seeing her condition, a Muslim woman named Amina who stayed in the same haadi, called the 108 ambulance service. Kuramma’s relatives refused to go with her to the hospital, citing that they had never been to a hospital before. Her husband too refused to go with her! Amina, despite opposition from her own family, convinced them to come along with her and transported Kuramma to the Taluk Hospital.
On seeing the condition of the woman, the doctor at the Taluk General Hospital sent her to Vivekananda Memorial hospital, Saragur in the same ambulance. Amina and the others accompanied her.
When I saw Kuramma for the first time, she had already lost considerable amount of blood. She was papery white and the baby had already died in-utero. She was suffering from 'Abruptio Placentae' - a condition resulting out of untreated hypertension during pregnancy, where the placenta separates prematurely leading to massive blood clot behind the placenta and death of the fetus. Some times the condition also leads to derangement of blood clotting - a condition called Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), which if not treated promptly, is fatal. She urgently needed blood transfusion. Unfortunately, on that day we did not have any compatible blood at our blood storage unit. Hence she had to be sent to Mysore for further management.
Now, Kuramma’s relatives refused to go to Mysore and said that they would take her back home. On seeing the relatives backing out, one of the staff working in our RCH Dept, a young man named Punit, who had unsuccessfully pleaded with Kuramma to access care previously, volunteered to accompany her to Mysore. As his blood group was the same as Kuramma's, he was prepared to donate blood in case it was required.
At Mysore, after certain sophisticated tests, it was proved that Kuramma indeed had DIC. She needed 4-5 units of both packed blood cells and also fresh frozen plasma to save her life. Obviously these were not available at Cheluvamba Hospital. The whole night, Punit ran around, getting all investigations done and arranging for blood and plasma from a private hospital. Mr.Shashi Kumar, a Good Samaritan, came to know about the problem and supported Punit. Meanwhile, Kuramma delivered a dead baby, but the doctors did not given any assurance that Kuramma would survive. Punit also donated his own blood.
After four blood transfusions and similar number of plasma transfusions later, Kuramma showed signs of improvement. The Govt Health Worker (ANM), who was supposed to take care of Kuramma, made an appearance only after senior officials of the Health Dept were informed about Kuramma's plight. Other staff from SVYM went the next day to relieve Punit. Punit refused to leave Mysore until doctors told him that Kuramma was out of danger! Most of the cost for the treatment was borne by SVYM.
Kuramma is now completely well and back with her family. She has promised that she will undergo sterilization after a couple of months. I really do not know whether she will ever understand how her life was saved or the people who saved it. But for every one who did their bit, nothing could possibly beat the satisfaction of seeing a mother go back to her young children.
Is this not what selfless service is all about?
Dr.Bindu Balasubramaniam
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Vivekananda Memorial Hospital, Saragur
