Monika More, 17, is eagerly waiting for the weekend.
After spending six months at KEM's orthopaedic ward following a train accident that left her without her hands, life is slowly getting back on track for the Kurla teenager.
While boarding a local at Ghatkopar on January 11, she slipped and fell in the gap between the train and the platform. As the train pulled out of the station her hands got crushed.
After several painstaking lessons, More can now eat, drink, and basically do everything by herself — thanks to her artificial limbs.
"We are overjoyed... she no longer depends on us for eating or drinking water or getting dressed," her father Ashok said. "These six months have been the most difficult period for us... We suppressed our tears to motivate her. Our efforts have paid off."
More hit the headlines with her accident and drew even the Bombay high court's attention towards the apathy of railways.
"I was pretty unnerved initially. But then the nurses, doctors, a steady stream of well-wishers and my family motivated me," More said. "I saw a ray of hope in the form of electronic limbs and I decided to grab the opportunity to live an independent life once again."
Since May, More is undergoing training at Chembur learning how to use advanced technology artificial limbs. Doctors say she is probably among the first few in the country to use myoelectric prosthetic limbs.
"She is being trained daily to handle the weight of the limbs, which are quite heavy at 12-1.5kg," Dr Pradeep Bhosale, head of KEM's orthopaedic department, said. "A myoelectric-controlled prosthesis is a battery-operated artificial limb that can be controlled with impulses generated naturally by muscles." These provide greater finger flexibility, improved hand functioning and better grip. Bhosale said More will be discharged on July 18.
"The limbs are at the Chembur clinic where she goes every day and practises for three hours. Doctors told us that she would get the limbs over the weekend and she would be free to go home," More's father said.
Talking about her stint in KEM, More said she would miss the nurses, doctors and patients. "They became my friends. But I am equally excited to return home and get back to studies... join college. For Class XI, I will take the help of a writer. But I hope to write my HSC exams on my own."
On the day of discharge, More will get two sets of prosthetic arms — one functional (electronic) and the other cosmetic. While the functional set includes an electric wrist rotator and has batteries, the cosmetic set is water-resistant and it does not come with batteries.
The functional arms are fitted with sensors that will receive signals when she uses certain forearm muscles. This will allow her to control and use her prosthetic arms.
Who is Monika More
Monika More, 17, is a class XI commerce student of SNDT College, Ghatkopar. She lives in Nehru Nagar, Kurla (East), with her parents and younger brother.
While boarding a local at Ghatkopar on January 11, she slipped and fell in the gap between the train and the platform. As the train pulled out of the station her hands got crushed.
Two students from Ramnirangan Jhujhunwalawala College took her to Rajawadi Hosptial. She was later transferred to KEM.
The family has raised over Rs34 lakh for the artificial limbs with help from donors.
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