Multi-Limbed Girl's Surgeon Proud

Admits Initially Uncertain He Could Help "Baby Lakshmi," But Happy About Results

(CBS)  "Baby Lakshmi" went into what would become 27-hour surgery in Bangalore, India a week ago with four arms, four legs, and multiple extra internal organs.

Now she appears well on her way to being a normal little girl, in no small part because of her surgeon, Dr. Sharan Patil.

In an exclusive interview, Patil told The Early Show's Dave Price he'd traveled in September to a remote village in northern India where, he'd been told, an extraordinary child had been born.

Still, says Patil, "In spite of all I'd heard, it was not something I expected to see."

When he first laid eyes on her, he says, doubt "absolutely" crept in about his ability to help. "By no means was I certain we could fix this," he recalled.

Lakshmi's father had already been told by other doctors that nothing could be done.

"They said," Patil told Price, "this is inoperable, and the child would lose the life if they attempted anything."

But Patil brought Lakshmi to Sparsh hospital in Bangalore. After she was scanned and examined, the doctors concluded there was hope.

"The first challenge was to identify the structures that belonged to Lakshmi and to separate them out from the structures that belonged to the parasitic twin (who had stopped developing in the womb, resulting in Lakshmi's deformities). ... We could not afford to make a mistake of interfering with the normal organs of Lakshmi."

One mistake, Patil says, and surgeons would have been "burning the bridges."

He led a massive team of doctors and nurses in 27 hours of surgery. For him, it was more than just an operation. It was "the most moving experience of my life, and I truly believe that, if we can achieve the well-being of Lakshmi and make her grow like a normal girl, with the prayers of everyone and the blessing from above, it will be the greatest satisfaction of my life."

It will be at least two months until Lakshmi can leave the hospital, Patil says.

But he adds that he's the one who's grateful, saying, "I think I'm very lucky, I'm very, very, very lucky to get this opportunity to touch the life of this little one."

And, he says, he'll have a special bond with Lakshmi from now on: "No question If she goes through a normal childhood and becomes a good citizen of this country, I will be very proud!"


A fund has been started to support Lakshmi and her family during her recuperation; for more information, go to www.sksn.org/lakshmiaftercarefund.

[lakshmifund]

Hi sab5000,

Glad to come to your rescue. There has been a web link set up for donations to Lakshmi and her family. Please log onto www.sksn.org/lakshmiaftercarefund/ to make your contributions. Since Lakshmi comes from an extremely impoverished background, every cent will count.

Thank you for taking the time to post your comment.

All the best
Sneh

[brianbwb-2009]

I''''ve searched the net thru-and-thru... and I cannot find any info on where to give donations for this child and her family. Anyone?
Posted by sab5000

I believe that the surgery was donated, and incidental expenses were also. your wish to help is admirable, but wait until the family directly asks, then contact them. do not trust the scam artists or organizations that prey on your good nature, try to contact the family directly.

Satan? I''d like to ask why God would allow this kind of birth. And I am a Christian.

I''ve searched the net thru-and-thru... and I cannot find any info on where to give donations for this child and her family. Anyone?