Stillborn comes alive just before burial

Karjat residents Aruna and Bhagwan Gaikwad's baby girl who is now being known as the 'miracle baby' is still critical after she came back to life moments before her funeral after being declared 'stillborn' by the Sion hospital authorities.

Aruna, in her 32nd week of pregnancy, was brought to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Hospital at Sion when she started convulsing. According to hospital authorities she was put on anti-convulgents and anti-hypertensive therapy, when she delivered the 'stillborn' child according to primary reports.

Bhagwan, a daily wageworker was on his way to his child's funeral after hours of her being kept in the mortuary. Moments before burying her, he suddenly saw her bawling and rushed her back to the hospital at 3.30 am, after an approximate eight and a half hours of believing his child was dead.

Born on June 16 at 7 pm at the Sion Hospital, the baby now weighs 1.4 kg and is currently admitted at the hospital's neo-natal Intensive Care Unit. “I am relieved that my child is alive,” said the beaming, 30-year-old mother. This is their first child after nine years of marriage. Aruna spoke mainly with nods and smiles, and once in a while broke into Marathi. She is recuperating at the hospital.

"Strict action will be taken against whoever is held responsible for this case of negligence, the inquiry is scheduled to start soon, though this is the first case of its kind in this hospital," said the new Dean in charge, Dr Sandhya Kamat, Sion Hospital. "The condition of the baby is still critical, but the mother is recovering at a good pace."

Additional Chief Commissioner (health) Kishore Gajbia, confirmed the Gynaecologist Dr Ashma's suspension, who delivered the baby and declared her dead.