Chennai: Following a rare procedure at Kilpauk Medical Hospital, Vijay whose legs had to be amputated following a railway accident in January is now able to walk using prosthetics.
The overall rehabilitative treatment was given as part of the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) for the first time. “The strength that I got from my mother, wife and the government is the sole reason I'm able to walk today,” Vijay says.
Vijay, 24, met with an unfortunate accident in January this year, which caused him to lose both his legs. After he slipped and fell in between the tracks at Bangarpet railway station, he was left to bleed until a policeman rescued him. “Many people looked at me bleeding profusely but ran away in fear. Had they helped, I would not be in this state,” says Vijay.
Vijay, a BSc computer science graduate, was working at a textile company and is the sole breadwinner of his family after his father stopped working. After the accident, his mother had to stitch and sell vests in trains to make ends meet.
Incidentally, the accident had occurred when Vijay was travelling to Bangalore for a job interview. Immediate medical attention was given at the Bangarpet government hospital, where his right leg was amputated, after which they referred him to KMC for treatment under the CMCHIS. At KMC, the left leg was amputated, following which the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) department took over for comprehensive rehabilitation. Dr K. Vasanthamani led a special team of doctors to treat Vijay who performed the amputation and ensured that he was ready for the prosthetics.
The procedures included socket fabrication, assembly of the prosthetic components, exercise therapy and training, all exclusively given at the PMR department for the first time under the CMCHIS.
Vijay’s wife Shilpa has been holding his hand through it all. “She was my girlfriend when the incident occurred. Her family objected to our relationship. When the accident happened, I asked her to leave me, she refused to,” he says, gratefully. Vijay and Shilpa got married at the Bangarpet Government Hospital in May.
The couple is now excited for a new lease of life. “I can now go back to work and give my mother some rest. It will be great if I am able to get a government job or some sort of help from the government,” Vijay says.
