Karnataka - Bangalore

An unusual `chief guest'

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: The Indian Academy of Paediatrics-Intensive Care created history at the eighth National Congress on Paediatric Critical Care by presenting an unusual chief guest at the inaugural session.

Bhavani, a first year student of Bishop Cotton Women's College, was in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Manipal Hospital for more than four months because of severe dengue, a viral infection.

Recalling her experience in the PICU, the young woman said, "The doctors literally brought back a part of my life I thought was lost. When I was admitted I could not talk or move, those simple functions we take for granted. Being immobile and speechless is a difficult experience."

Half-way through the long treatment, she was tempted to give up but found the courage to stick through to recovery.

"Now, I can lead a normal life. Being in hospital can never really be a pleasant experience but you feel better about yourself when you get out," she remarked. Another young paediatric patient Vaishnavi released the Congress souvenir.

Chairman of the organising committee Subba Rao said Bangalore was now acquiring the "health city" reputation because of its many super-speciality hospitals. To match the host city's high-tech reputation a telemedicine session beamed from the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles was part of the inaugural session.

Chairman of IAP-Intensive Care Chapter Satish Deopujari and organising secretary H.C. Girish spoke about the scope of the conference.

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