The girl who had fallen off a 15-feet-high wall. partially paralysing herself, is now able to walk independently. The 16-year-old had fallen from a community garden in her society, located on the first floor, leading to a spinal fracture. This led to paraplegia. Rigorous neuro-rehabilitation at Jupiter Hospital for over two months has helped her finally recover. Saloni Merchant was climbing up a grill in the garden on March 19, when it came out loose and she fell on her back with the grill. "Doctors told me that medical science wasn't so advanced to cure it and she would remain paralysed below her waist for life. Our world collapsed," said Merchant. A CT scan report also showed a small contusion in her head, and she was shifted to Jupiter Hospital under Dr Priyank Patel, a spine surgeon.

Diagnosis at the hospital revealed that she had developed a fracture in her thoracic spine running from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. The neuro-circulation in the lower part of her body thus got affected. "It is like a building developing cracks. It needed immediate attention for recovery. Firstly, we needed to realign the spine and stabilise it with screws and a rod. Then we had to free the nerves that were compressed due to the impact of the fall," said Dr Patel. This helped regain the free flow of sensation. It is essential to operate on such patients within 24-48 hours of the accident without which the damage can be irreversible.