Latest news with #SpecialNewbornCareUnit


Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Found in a bag on train, newborn Veer getting better, finds 40 prospective families
More than 40 families were eager to adopt a newborn boy who was found in a bag in an AC coach of the Patna-Chandigarh Special Train on June 22, Moradabad district probation officer SP Gautam said. After surviving extreme neglect and battling for life in a hospital, the infant—now lovingly named Veer by the hospital staff—is showing signs of recovery. (For representation) On June 22, the infant boy was rushed to the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at the Women's Hospital in Moradabad. Doctors say Veer was initially placed on CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) due to severe breathing difficulties caused by oxygen deprivation. He had been trapped in the bag for nearly 10 hours, which had led to hypoxia—a condition that could have been fatal had he not received timely medical care. Women's Hospital chief medical superintendent (CMS) Dr. Nirmala Pathak said, 'The child's respiratory rate was abnormally high.' Veer was kept on CPAP support for 72 hours and later shifted to standard oxygen support. As his condition improved, oxygen support was gradually withdrawn, and he was now breathing freely, she added. However, Veer still faced difficulty in feeding and was being nourished via IV drips. 'First, he survived for hours in a bag, and then he fought for his life in the ICU. He truly deserves the name Veer (which means brave),' said a staff member. Once Veer gets better completely, he will be handed over to Childline, a government-supported child welfare organisation. Meanwhile, law enforcement authorities were actively looking for people who had abandoned the child. Railway Protection Force (RPF) commandant Utkarsh Narayan confirmed that a SIM card was also recovered from the bag in which the baby was found. In another case of abandonment and eventual adoption, an infant girl who was found in the bushes near Gagan Tiraha in Mainather on the eve of Dhanteras last year, has found a home. Lakshmi had been grievously injured by stray dogs, with deep wounds on her hip. She spent nearly six weeks at the SNCU of the Women's Hospital. The girl has been adopted by a doctor couple from Chennai.


Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
45-day-old baby's vision saved by doctors in Pune, Amravati
In an example of care and compassion, doctors and hospital staff from Amravati and Pune came together to save the eyesight of a 45-day-old baby girl from a remote tribal village in Temru village in Chikhaldara tehsil of Melghat. This was a more aggressive form of ROP. Usually, we have three to four days to operate, but in such cases, even a delay of one or two days can lead to blindness. The swift action by the Amravati team ensured that didn't happen, says doctor. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) Born on May 10 at the District Women's Hospital in Amravati, the baby weighed just 990 grams. She was admitted to the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) for over a month. On June 12, doctors diagnosed her with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a potentially blinding eye condition that affects premature babies. Left untreated, ROP can lead to irreversible vision loss. Realizing the urgency—ROP in such cases requires surgical intervention within two to three days—the doctors at Amravati swung into action. But multiple challenges stood in their way. The baby's parents were in deep financial distress. They spoke a tribal dialect that many couldn't understand and lacked the necessary documents to avail of government health schemes. Above all, they had no means to travel to Pune, where the required treatment was available. Despite this, Dr Preeti Ingle, head of the SNCU in Amravati, contacted Dr Sucheta Kulkarni, medical director at PBMA's HV Desai Eye Hospital in Pune. Dr Kulkarni immediately agreed to perform the surgery free of cost, but the question remained—how would the baby reach Pune, nearly 600 km away? Initially, the baby's father refused to travel, citing a complete lack of money—he couldn't even afford the journey back to his own village. Recognising the gravity of the situation, hospital staff began counselling him. Meanwhile, district official Prakash Khadke contacted senior health officers Dr Tilottama Wankhede in Melghat and Dr Aishwarya Wankhede of the Primary Health Centre in Katkumb. Together, they arranged ₹ 5,000 to fund the family's travel. On June 12, the family was supposed to catch a train at 10:45 pm, but they missed it. Undeterred, hospital and district staff arranged fresh tickets for June 13 and personally accompanied the father and child to the station to ensure they boarded safely. They reached Pune the next day, June 14, at 7 am. Waiting at the railway station was Vishnu Gaikwad, an optometrist from the retina department at HV Desai Eye Hospital. He received the duo and took them straight to the hospital. The baby underwent surgery the same day. Later that evening, Gaikwad escorted the father and child back to the station and saw them off on their return journey. The baby was readmitted to the District Women's Hospital in Amravati for follow-up care. Doctors there confirmed her condition is stable and, most importantly, her eyesight has been saved. 'This was a more aggressive form of ROP. Usually, we have three to four days to operate, but in such cases, even a delay of one or two days can lead to blindness. The swift action by the Amravati team ensured that didn't happen,' said Dr Kulkarni. She also underlined the importance of early screening in rural areas. 'We conduct regular ROP screening in Pune, Satara, and Alibaug, but such programmes need to be expanded to remote districts like Melghat,' she added. From a tribal hamlet in the Melghat hills to a high-tech eye hospital in Pune, this journey was powered by urgency, empathy, and institutional coordination. For a 45-day-old baby girl, it was not just a medical intervention—it was a second chance to see the world.


News18
19-06-2025
- Health
- News18
Born At 6 Months, Just 700 Grams: Bihar Twins' Miracle Survival Story Stuns Doctors
Last Updated: According to officials at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Begusarai Sadar Hospital, the infants were brought in by their desperate father after being turned away elsewhere In what doctors are calling a rare miracle, a pair of premature twins born at just six months and weighing less than a kilogram have survived after being refused treatment by multiple hospitals in Patna. The remarkable story of courage, persistence, and medical determination has unfolded at the Sadar Hospital in Begusarai, Bihar. According to officials at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Begusarai Sadar Hospital, the infants were brought in by their desperate father after being turned away elsewhere. The twins, one weighing just 700 grams and the other around 800 grams, were born prematurely to a woman identified as Komal (name changed) in Patna. The premature delivery, which occurred before the completion of the sixth month of pregnancy, left the infants fighting for life with virtually no chance of survival. Doctors at several hospitals in the state capital reportedly told the family that there was no possibility of saving the babies. Refusing to give up, the family recalled hearing of a neonatologist named Dr Krishna Kumar in Begusarai, known locally for his work in newborn care. In a last-ditch effort, they travelled over 120 kilometres to reach him. The infants were admitted to the SNCU under the care of Dr Kumar, who began immediate intensive care treatment. Against all odds, both newborns responded to the medical support. The doctor confirmed that while the children arrived in extremely critical condition, they are now out of immediate danger and have started responding to breast milk feeding. The next few weeks remain crucial, but signs are positive. 'Saving babies born at just 24 weeks is an immense challenge anywhere in the world," Dr Kumar told Local 18. The babies came with extremely low birth weights and underdeveloped organs, but with the right care and continuous monitoring, there is hope, he said. The case has brought unexpected attention to Begusarai's Sadar Hospital, often overlooked in Bihar's overburdened health system. Officials say this success reflects both a family's relentless faith and the quiet improvements in neonatal care being made in district hospitals. Sushil Kumar, the infants' father, attributes their survival to divine will and human perseverance. 'We were shattered when every hospital told us there was no hope. But something kept us going. Dr Krishna Kumar and his team gave our children a second chance at life," he said with tears in his eyes. The twins will remain in the SNCU under observation for another few weeks. If all continues to progress well, doctors say they could be declared fully healthy by the end of three months, a remarkable feat for babies born so early. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: