Bhojpuri films, songs and a lot of pep talk

Tears rolled down the cheeks of 19yearold Anjit Kumar a daily wage earner as he bid farewell to doctors at JJ Hospital on Friday The UP native who has been living in Mumbai to earn a living by painting walls met with a train accident on April 16 that left half of his right hand severed After getting operated on and surviving COVID Kumar was finally discharged on Friday with a small farewellKumar with Dr Yogesh Jaiswal PicsBipin KokateKumar had undergone an 11hour surgery on the day of his accident but he soon contracted COVID19 Doctors at JJ hospital not only reimplanted his hand and COVID but also footed the bills and helped his parents financially while he was out of a job In addition during his hospital stay Kumar was also treated to Bhojpuri movies and songs During his farewell the doctors also got a cake for KumarDr Yogesh Jaiswal assistant professor and plastic surgeon who led the surgery under the guidance of Dr Chandrakant Gharwade head of department plastic surgery said ldquoWhen he was brought to us at JJ hospitalrsquos casualty all we wanted was to save his hand It wasnrsquot an easy task amid the pandemic But the hospital administration ensured that we achieve the impossible Our OT was under repair We shifted him to GT Hospital While he underwent other medical tests I started operating on the severed partrdquoA team of 1015 doctors and medical staff worked nonstop to reimplant the severed part ldquoVeins from Kumarrsquos legs were harvested to reconstruct the severely damaged arteries of his right hand There was also significant loss of skin in the right hand So we reconstructed skin with the help of a flap taken from his stomach region Torn muscles were repaired and nerves reconnectedrdquo said Dr GharwadeChallenges postsurgeryWhile the surgery was smooth the real challenge came postsurgery when Kumar tested positive ldquoHe was brought to JJ hospital postsurgery After he tested positive we shifted him to St George Hospital a COVID facility We had to check his wound hourly wearing PPE as no one else could do the crucial dressing There was high risk of infection leading to clotting of vessels that could have led to the death of the connected part It could have been lifethreatening toordquo said Dr JaiswalBeing COVID positive made Kumar restless and he requested doctors to let him go home and amputate his hand ldquoWe counselled him showed him Bhojpuri movies and songs and tried to keep him in good spirits We had to make him feel confident that he could come out of it strongrdquo Dr Jaiswal saidThe doctors came together to not only ensure that his bills and medicines are taken care of but also his parents get financial help ldquoWe are happy that he is smiling and getting dischargedrdquo said Dr JaiswalKumar said that he is overwhelmed and grateful to the doctors ldquoThey are like god to me I have got a second lease of life because of them and can never forget the things they did for merdquo said KumarKumar underwent four surgeries for the hand reconstruction and reimplantation Doctors said he would need more surgeries in the coming days to ensure maximum restoration of mobility04No of surgeries Anjit Kumar underwent to reattach the hand