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Childbirth is nothing short of a miracle! What else would you call a phenomenon where a tiny, little cell with careful nurturing in an enclosed environment, grows into a full-fledged, living, breathing human being? No wonder then that the mothers across the world are hailed for their effort, irrespective of their birthing choices. Another aspect of motherhood is the mother-baby bonding. It is common knowledge that the umbilical cord binds the mother with the baby inside the womb. Yet, despite the fact that this bond is severed immediately after birth, the mother-child bond only grows stronger. And this bond of love and faith is capable of moving mountains. In some instances, the kind of milestones that this bond achieves goes even beyond the reasoning of science too. It is probably then that such instances are called miracles!
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One such instance occurred in the state of Kerala (1). In the city of Kottayam, Beteena lived with her small family – her husband Anoop and a nearly 6 years old child (her first). The fact that she had just completed her first trimester with her second child was enough reason for Beteena to be on cloud nine. All of 28 years, her life seemed to be full of bliss. Until one day, Beteena hurt herself in a freak accident. While her husband and child were safe, she had to be rushed to the Carithas Hospital due to her unresponsive state and respiratory distress. She had suffered a cerebral trauma due to which she had to be admitted to the ICU and was put on a ventilator immediately. Unfortunately, though, she slipped into a coma. Now, the doctors at the Carithas Hospital were aware that she was pregnant. They also knew that the medications required for Beteena’s survival were quite strong. This meant that her fetus was at a high risk of an abortion or a birth defect. However, a choice had to be made. Beteena’s survival was of prime importance and the doctors went ahead with it. Beteena was on a ventilator for two months and she was monitored regularly. But what came as a huge shock, and relief, for all the doctors was when Beteena’s extensive treatment did not seem to affect the baby’s growth at all.
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Happy that the baby was meeting the growth milestones, the doctors now threw their weight behind helping the baby too. Beteena was constantly fed with liquid food to ensure proper supply of nutrients to the baby. By and by, the baby completed 37 weeks in the mother’s womb while Beteena continued to be in a comatose state. At this stage, the doctors realized that it was time to deliver the baby. They conducted several rounds of consultations with other expert doctors before performing the surgery. Finally, on June 14, the doctors performed a C-section to deliver a healthy baby boy!
But wait! This awesome story does not end here. Behold! The moment the newborn started crying, Beteena woke up from her coma! Yes! The doctors, who were constantly trying to revive Beteena all this while were completely knocked off their boots! As she hugged her baby and cried, the doctors’ joy too knew no bounds. One of the doctors on the team that treated Beteena was Dr. Vivek, HoD of the Department of Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care. He was happy to note that Beteena’s condition had improved from a neurological stand-point after she was initiated on breastfeeding.
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Beteena and Anoop named their baby Elvin. She was eventually discharged within 10 days of the delivery after the baby and her condition stabilized. This incident is yet another proof of the amazing mother-baby bonding. It also goes on to show what a team of dedicated medical professionals can achieve when they refuse to give up and relentlessly pursue their goal. Like one of them said soon after the delivery that the moment of Elvin’s birth had God’s signature on it, we too concur with them. What more can be expected but only a miracle such as this, that too from God’s Own Country*!
*A sobriquet for the state of Kerala.
