This time last year, 17-year-old gymnast Brijesh Yadav was preparing for the national school championship in Agra. He went on to win a silver medal at the event. This year, while preparing to bag a gold, he broke his upper spine. This happened after he missed a step while completing a move called the “double front” and landed on his neck.
What does the body go through when the upper spine snaps?
Pain so severe that it instantly paralyses the limbs, breathing gets laborious and the heart rate slows down to a dangerous level, says Dr Ankush Garg of Gurgaon’s Paras Hospital. The senior spine surgeon says 60 to 70 percent of such patients die on the spot or on the way to the hospital.
Brijesh’s father, Chandrabhan Yadav is a level IV government employee, who earns around Rs 15,000 a month. He can’t afford the treatment that runs into lakhs.
Surgery alone costs between Rs 4 to 6 lakh. Such patients are required to stay in hospital for around a month. This can cost an additional Rs 5 to 6 lakh. The total expenditure is about Rs 10 lakh, maybe even higher.Dr Ankush Garg
After two back-to-back surgeries that lasted nearly eight hours, Brijesh is slowly showing signs of recovery. His vitals have stabilised. There is no sensation yet in his limbs. But doctors feel that in the next few days things will hopefully change.
Dr Ranvir Singh, medical superintendent has been very helpful and is taking extra care of Brijesh.
But a lot more needs to be done. Join The Quint in partnership with Ketto to get Brijesh Yadav back on his feet.
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