In a heartwarming narrative that recently came to light, a child’s life was heroically saved by two doctors on board an IndiGo flight traveling from Ranchi to Delhi. The child, suffering from a congenital heart disease, found himself in distress as he struggled to breathe, about 20 minutes post takeoff from Ranchi.
As the situation with the child deteriorated, the flight crew sent out an emergency announcement seeking medical assistance from any doctor on board. The urgency in the cabin was palpable. Among the passengers, two doctors came forward to offer their medical expertise in this dire situation. The ordeal unfolded on a Saturday, evoking a dramatic scene right in the sky.
20 minutes into the flight, as the child’s respiratory distress signaled danger, the aircraft’s pilot sent out an urgent call for medical aid. Responding to the emergency, Dr. Nitin Kulkarni, an IAS officer with a medical background, along with Dr. Mojammil Firoz of Ranchi Sadar Hospital, leaped into action. The timing was crucial; every second counted as the young heart struggled.
Employing an adult mask and various other medications at their disposal, the quick-thinking doctors managed to establish an oxygen supply for the child. Their effort was nothing short of an aerial ballet, in sync with the beating hope in the child’s chest. The ordeal didn’t end until an hour later when the flight landed safely, and a medical team took over the child’s care, ensuring continued oxygen support.
The parents were transporting the child to Delhi’s AIIMS for further treatment of his congenital heart ailment, known as Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). Their journey had become an unexpected venture between life and death, in which breaths were counted, and hope soared high amidst the clouds.
Dr. Kulkarni mentioned how distressing the scene was, as the mother was in tears, witnessing her child gasping for breath. The adept actions of Dr. Kulkarni and Dr. Mojammil involved providing oxygen through an adult mask as there were no pediatric masks or cannula available on board. They meticulously reviewed the child’s medical records.
With the help of a drug kit, they administered an injection of Theophylline. The parents also had a dose of Dexamethasone, which proved to be beneficial. The injection and oxygen supply slowly stabilized the child’s condition, showing signs of improvement. Monitoring the heart rate with a stethoscope, they navigated through the crisis, although the absence of an oximeter made it challenging to assess the oxygen saturation levels.
Their swift and timely intervention underlined the quintessence of medical professionalism and humanity, literally soaring above and beyond to save a precious life. The narrative does more than just warm the heart; it reinstates faith in humanity, showcasing how in the gravest of situations, angels emerge, even if they are thousands of feet above the ground.
