Doctor turns ‘ambulance driver’, saves newborn’s life

NAVI MUMBAI: A doctor went beyond his call of duty to save a newborn hours after his birth. Dr Rajendra Chandorkar, who works at a hospital in Alibaug, got onto his bike and rode the baby to the hospital which has an intensive care unit for newborns, about 1.5km away from the nursing home where he was born. The child’s aunt rode pillion, cradling him in her arms.The doctor’s alacrity paid off as the baby is now doing well and is set to go home soon.
The boy, weighing 2.9kg, was born at Dr Vaje Nursing Home around 7.30am on Tuesday. Soon after, he had difficulty in breathing, said doctors. Also, the child had cyanosis — a condition in which the skin turns pale blue and grey. This spurred the need to keep him in intensive care for newborns, also known as NICU. The child’s mother was also in a critical condition.
Dr Chandrakant Vaje from the nursing home called up Dr Rajendra Chandorkar of Anandi Maternity & Child Hospital, located 1.5km away, which has the NICU. Dr Chandorkar reached the nursing home on his bike. But the baby could not be transported to the hospital’s NICU as there was no ambulance or other vehicle. That’s when the baby’s aunt, Supriya Petkar (28), a nurse at a public health centre, asked the doctor if he would ride the newborn on his bike while she rode pillion, holding the child.
In no time, the doctor, the nurse and the newborn reached the hospital. “The baby was wheeled into the NICU where he was given resuscitation, fluid, antibiotics and oxygen for 12 hours,” said Dr Chandorkar. The mother could not be transferred to the hospital due to her condition, said Dr Chandorkar, president of Indian Medical Association’s Alibaug unit. “Her medical history was initially of concern. But later, it was to ensure the baby’s survival.”
On Friday, three days later, the newborn was moved back to the nursing home where the mother was. The newborn’s family is relieved that all has ended well.