Hyderabad/Kolkata, 23rd July’24: Our brain is not just yet another organ, as the control tower, it is the epicentre of our body’s functioning system, controlling our thoughts, emotions, and actions. The development of the narrative about brain health and essential awareness is of paramount importance within the healthcare fraternity. Celebrating the poignant stories of patients on World Brain Day, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, hosted an encouraging program where the brain and spine surgeons engaged in an interactive session and the inspiring survivors shared anecdotes from their recovery journeys. The event was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Tashi Penjore, Honourable Consul General (Royal Bhutanese Consulate). Guests of honour included revered Bengali playwright and thespian Mr. Arun Mukhopadhyay, along with film director, writer and actor Mr. Shiboprosad Mukherjee. Representing Medica were, Dr. L.N. Tripathy, Senior Vice Chairman, Director & Senior Consultant, Medica Institute of Neurological Diseases (MIND); Dr. Harsh Jain, Senior Consultant – Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon, and Dr. Sunandan Basu, Consultant, Brain and Spine Surgeon were present at the program.
At the program, Dr. L.N. Tripathy, stated, “Brain health is the cornerstone of our well-being. As we observe World Brain Day, it is crucial to highlight some alarming statistics, in India, 40,000 to 50,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumors each year, with 20% of these patients being children. The average survival rate for those with malignant brain tumors is only 34.4%. These tumors owe their origin to many factors that include genetic factors and previous exposure to radiation. To me, these figures indicate the necessity of increasing the general awareness of the diseases, timely diagnosis, and the availability of healthier therapeutic management to achieve a better prognosis and a higher quality of life.”
Dr. Harsh Jain, shared, “Today, we are delighted to see everyone in this room in a happy and healthy state. At Medica, our commitment is to provide treatment as per global standards in terms of clinical expertise and technology support. We have constituted an internal Tumour Board to discuss these complex cases across clinicians from concerned disciplines. This board consists of neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, neuro-pathologists, and neuro-radiologists, fostering a comprehensive and collaborative approach in addressing these critical cases.”
During his address, Dr. Sunandan Basu, emphasized, “At Medica, the commitment is witnessing appropriate enhancement of the advanced treatment of neurological disorders. This day therefore played the role of reminding the society that we are only as healthy as the brain we have. In other words, prioritizing education, research, and early interventional programs, we may achieve substantial advancement in handling the disorders and problems associated with our brain and create a better tomorrow for every person. For spreading the required awareness for the masses, I would like to express my gratitude to all our guests who participated in this event.”
Mr. Naresh Saha, a 68-year-old male patient shared his journey and expressed, “On 11th June 2023, I experienced a convulsion followed by trouble walking, which led to the discovery of a tumour in my brain. I was admitted to the hospital on 26th June 2023 and underwent the surgery to remove the tumour the next day. Despite my history of high blood pressure and heart issues, my operation was smooth because the medical team took excellent care of me. After the operation, I recovered well and was discharged on 1st July 2023. Follow-up MRIs show that I am now tumour-free. I am deeply grateful for the care I received and for the successful outcome.”
During the event, the father of Ms. Prachesta Chhetri (a 12-year-old female patient), shared, “My daughter Prachesta was rushed to the emergency room on 29th April 2024 after two days of severe vomiting. That evening, she suddenly lost consciousness and had a seizure. She underwent critical surgery the next day, followed by another operation on 3rd May 2024 to remove a tumour from her brain. Thanks to the exceptional care she received, Prachesta was able to go home on 10th May 2024. She has made a remarkable recovery since the surgeries, and we are incredibly grateful to the medical team for saving her life.”
Mr. Mahendra Pratap Singh, a 50-year-old male patient, stated, “On 31st May 2024, as my flight was landing, I suddenly experienced a severe headache. After rushing to the emergency room, a scan revealed bleeding in my brain and an aneurysm (abnormal bulge in the wall of the blood vessel) in one of the main arteries. I underwent a procedure on 2nd June 2024 to place a special device called a flow diverter to prevent further issues, and I was discharged on 8th June 2024. I am happy to say that I have recovered well after the procedure. I am immensely grateful to the medical team for excellent care.”
Today, through a series of convincing and enlightening professional talks, moving narratives interspersed with real life recovery stories, Medica Superspecialty Hospital reaffirmed its commitment to innovative care and advocacy of brain wellness.