Home LifestyleHealth & Beauty Afsheen Gul: The Heart-Tugging Story of How an Indian Doctor Saved This 13-Year-Old Pakistani’s Life

Afsheen Gul: The Heart-Tugging Story of How an Indian Doctor Saved This 13-Year-Old Pakistani’s Life

by Ayesal A
afsheen gul

Life for 13-year-old Pakistani teen Afsheen Gul was not the same as compared to other children her age. The young lady suffered from a rare condition which kept her neck at a 90-degree angle after an accident when she fell from her sister’s arms at the mere age of 10 months old.

Since then, Afsheen has been struggling to live a normal life. The youngest of 7 siblings never went to school, or even played with friends because of the restrictions her condition had implied. The doctor who her parents took her to at the time gave her medicines and a neck belt, which only made her condition worse.

“She could not walk, eat or talk. She used to just lie on the ground and we used to help her with everything,” Afsheen’s mother Jamila Bibi recalled during an interview with BBC. She added that they could not afford further treatment.

Moreover, Afsheen Gul was also suffering from Cerebral Palsy, meaning that she developed her motor skills late, as she learnt to walk at 6 and speak at 8 years old. She spent 12 years of her life in her house in Mithi, about 300km from Karachi in her painful state.

Source: BBC

While all signs of hope were lost, Afsheen’s life turned 360 degrees in March when an Indian doctor, Rajagopalan Krishan, a specialist in complex spinal surgeries at the Apollo Hospital in Delhi offered to conduct Afsheen Gul’s surgery free of cost. Now, 4 months post her operation, Afsheen can finally walk, talk, and eat on her own.

“She is a little weak – and is still unable to go to school – but the doctor says that will get better with time,” Afsheen’s brother Yaqoob Kumbar says. “We are so happy – the doctor saved my sister’s life. For us he is an angel,” Mr Kumbar added.

Source: Tribune

Dr Krishan checks on her every week via Skype because Afsheen suffers from atlantoaxial rotatory dislocation, a rotation of the spine which causes neck impairment – probably the first-ever case in the world, he is keeping a close eye on his special patient.
Afsheen’s story came to light back in 2017 after an article covering her story went viral. Moreover, Pakistani actor Ahsan Khan shared a photo of Afsheen on Facebook, urging people to help her. On the other hand, she was also invited to a popular morning show hosted by Sanam Baloch to share awareness about her condition. An online fundraiser was also created by an organiser in the US to help her family afford surgery.
In 2018, specialists at the Aga Khan Hospital told her family she has a 50% chance of survival, but due to some family wedding and other things, the surgery was unable to be conducted. Later, the family was contacted by Dr Krishanan in Delhi. After that, the family applied for a visa and Dar-ul-Sukoon helped them with the process.
The 6-hour procedure remained successful and pictures of young Afsheen Gul are giving countless families suffering through similar situations hope during dark times.
We wish the young Afsheen Gul a bright and happy future and congratulate Dr Krishanan on yet another success.
Stay tuned to WOW360 for more news and updates.
https://wow360.pk/exclusive-amal-clooney-womens-empowerment-award-winner-tanzila-khan-makes-major-announcements/

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