Eight-year-old Mahi Banik’s remarkable recovery journey from Japanese Encephalitis was celebrated at GB Pant Hospital, Agartala, as doctors and staff honored her resilience with a heartfelt birthday celebration after five months of life-saving treatment and care.
If resilience had a face, it would be that of eight-year-old Mahi Banik—a little warrior whose story has become a symbol of hope and medical triumph at GB Pant Hospital, Agartala. Lying on her hospital bed, surrounded by smiling doctors and nurses, Mahi cut her birthday cake with trembling hands, marking not only another year of her life but a miraculous recovery from a life-threatening condition.
A Celebration of Courage and Care
Mahi has been undergoing treatment for the past five months in the hospital’s paediatric ward. Her journey began when she was admitted with severe complications later diagnosed as Japanese Encephalitis, a rare and potentially fatal brain infection. Despite overwhelming odds, she fought her way back to life—supported by a dedicated medical team that refused to give up on her.
On the day of her birthday, the paediatric ward turned into a small festival of smiles and gratitude. Senior doctors including Dr. Shankar Chakraborty, Medical Superintendent of GB Pant Hospital, and Deputy MS Kanak Choudhury, joined Mahi’s mother and hospital staff in celebrating the little girl’s inspiring comeback.
“She is not just a patient to us anymore—she’s a symbol of what medical science, compassion, and determination can achieve together,” said Dr. Sanjib Debbarma, senior paediatric specialist at the hospital.
A Record-Breaking Recovery
Dr. Debbarma explained that Mahi’s case was extraordinary for multiple reasons. “She is the first child in our paediatric ward to survive after being kept under ventilation for 60 consecutive days,” he said. “Previously, no child patient had been kept under ventilation for more than 20 days here.”
When Mahi was first brought to GB Pant Hospital, her condition was critical. The initial diagnosis suggested Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). She was immediately treated with anti-convulsive drugs and injectables, but her health deteriorated rapidly. She soon had to be placed on life support, marking the beginning of a long and uncertain battle.
Further investigations revealed she was suffering from Japanese Encephalitis, and her mother’s incomplete vaccination during pregnancy was identified as a likely contributing factor. “We want to strongly urge all expectant mothers to complete their Japanese Encephalitis vaccination doses,” said Dr. Debbarma. “A single missed dose can have devastating consequences.”
During her prolonged ventilation, Mahi developed tension pneumothorax, a severe lung complication, but doctors provided timely treatment. Slowly, her condition began to stabilize, and she was eventually shifted to the general ward for further recovery and physiotherapy.
A Mother’s Gratitude
For Mahi’s mother, the journey has been nothing short of a nightmare turned miracle. “We first took her to Dasda Hospital for high fever, but her condition worsened,” she recalled. “She was then referred to Dharmanagar, and before we reached there, she started having convulsions. Doctors there referred us to GB Pant Hospital immediately.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, the single mother expressed deep gratitude toward the hospital staff. “My husband doesn’t live with us, and my father is not in a position to support financially. Every expense—from medicines to surgery—was borne by GB Pant Hospital. The doctors have done everything possible to save my daughter’s life,” she said.
A Story to Remember
As the birthday song echoed in the paediatric ward, doctors and nurses clapped while Mahi smiled shyly, her frail body still weak but her spirit unbroken. For the GB Pant Hospital team, her survival is a testament to their collective dedication and a reminder of the human side of healthcare.
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“This story will be written in golden letters in the hospital’s history,” Dr. Debbarma said proudly. “Mahi’s courage has taught us that hope and medicine together can perform miracles.”
