8-year-old girl battling critical disease observes birthday in Tripura's GB hospital

Agartala: A birthday celebration inside a hospital ward turned into a moving moment of hope and triumph as eight-year-old Mahi Banik, who spent two months on a ventilator support battling Japanese Encephalitis, marked her special day at GB Pant Hospital here in Tripura on Tuesday.

Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff joined the celebration, calling Mahi’s recovery nothing short of a medical milestone. “She is the first child in the paediatric unit to be on ventilator support for sixty days and survive,” said senior paediatric specialist Dr. Sanjib Debbarma. “Her case will be remembered in the history of GB Pant Hospital as a story of determination and teamwork.”

Doctors admitted Mahi to the hospital nearly five months ago after referring her from Dharmanagar with severe convulsions and high fever.

The doctors initially suspected Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, but later confirmed it as Japanese Encephalitis. “Despite prolonged treatment, her condition remained critical, and we had to put her on ventilator support. At one stage, she even developed tension pneumothorax, a rare complication of long-term ventilation, but she pulled through,” Dr. Debbarma said.

The doctors credited her recovery to round-the-clock medical care, physiotherapy, and the support extended by the hospital administration. Mahi is now under observation in the general ward and continues to show signs of gradual improvement.

Her mother, a single parent, expressed gratitude to the doctors and staff for saving her daughter’s life. “She was in such a critical state that I thought I would lose her. The hospital took care of everything, including the expenses. I can’t thank them enough,” she said, tears welling in her eyes.

Hospital authorities said Mahi’s case underscores the importance of full vaccination during pregnancy. “Her mother had received only one dose of the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine while pregnant, which might have contributed to the child’s vulnerability. We urge all expectant mothers to complete their vaccination schedule,” said Dr. Debbarma.

Medical Superintendent Dr. Shankar Chakraborty, Deputy MS Kanak Choudhury, and members of the paediatric department joined the celebration.

The medical team placed a small cake beside Mahi’s bed as the child, still recovering, smiled faintly while cutting it, creating an emotional moment for those who had fought tirelessly to give her a new lease of life.