Paralysed JE patient back on feet

Kolkata: When Gurupada Sardar was diagnosed with Japanese Encephalitis (JE) more than a year ago, everyone had given up hope. But quality medical care and involving the 14-year-old boy's family in the post critical care treatment made all the difference.
Gurupada's parents showed patience and perseverance, and minutely followed the doctors' orders and now the paralysed boy is back on his feet.Doctors, however, say it will take some more time for him to start walking.
Gurupda was affected by JE in November 2014. His parents, who live in North 24-Parganas's Minakha, initially took him to the primary health center. Unable to detect the ailment, doctors referred him to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH). Three days had been wasted by then and Gurupada had developed life threatening symptoms. Doctors at RG Kar put him in the critical care unit even before the diagnosis was done.
It took a little more than two months for the medical team to bring the boy back from the jaws of death. But what followed is a story worth learning from.
After the disease left Gurupada paralysed, his parents learnt physiotherapy exercises from the medical team at RGKMCH and made their son follow the regimen. Two post-graduate trainees - Dr Pritam Biswas and Dr Saibal Si - kept in touch with the parents on a regular basis to check up on the boy.
Finally, about two weeks back, Gurupada stood on his own feet.
"Doctors said that we had to have patience to see Gurupada walking again. We trusted them and followed their instructions at home. My son finally stood on his own feet a few days back, after more than a year. We are over the moon," said Gurupada's father Ananda, a rickshaw-puller.
"We are amazed at the kind of care and perseverance the parents have shown, despite the fact that they have a hand-to-mouth life. Training and involving family members of patients in treating this kind of ailment can bring aboutr great results," said Dr Sugata Dasgupta, critical care medicine expert at RGKMCH.
Gurupada's twin, Ananda, has been promoted to Class X. Gurupada studies at home so he can cope with his peers when he rejoins school. As of now, he is still unable to go to school since it is far and he needs to walk.
JE is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito and results in fatality in about 60% cases. Symptoms start with high fever and headache, accompanied by vomiting and rigidity in the neck. It becomes life threatening once the virus reaches the brain, inducing coma.