Girl, who had 67 fits a week, is fit now

Delhi multi-speciality hospital treats Afghan girl suffering from epileptic seizures

Delhi multi-speciality hospital treats Afghan girl suffering from epileptic seizures

Geeta is back in her school and hopes to pass her senior secondary this year.

The 17-year-old was sitting in her school in Kabul on a hot day in 2002 when suddenly her face turned ugly and

Back in business: Geeta at a Delhi hospital

when she regained consciousness some time later, life for the teenager had changed forever. After a detailed medical examination, the doctors diagnosed it as an epileptic seizure and then started a long haul of diagnostic tests and medicines.

However, Geeta's condition deteriorated by the day and when even after five years of medication could not be of any help, her family decided to take her to Pakistan in 2007. "Geeta used to suffer as many as 67 fits a day and we were losing hope with each passing day. Her overall health has also undergone a drastic change," Geeta's brother Abdul Mahsood told MiD DAY.

After staying for a week in Pakistan, Geeta's family brought her to Delhi. They took her to Max Hospital in Saket.

"After conducting a series of tests on her, we treated her with a combination of anti-epileptic drugs and surgical intervention over a period of two years. Now, she is leading a normal life," said Dr Puneet Agarwal, Senior Consultant, Neurology, who treated Geeta. He told MiD DAY that Geeta was suffering from a rare structural abnormality of temporal lobe, a very rare condition.

At 24 years Geeta considers herself a "bit old" for resuming her school, but nevertheless she wants to complete her senior secondary. "I want to continue my studies, now. That has been my only passion," a beaming Geeta said, wearing a black headscarf. Fully fit now, Geeta comes to Delhi every six months for check-up.

TREATMENT COST

The Afghan girl's family had to spend huge sums of money on her treatment. It also involves the cost incurred on the visits for check-up every six months when Geeta comes to India every six months. The surgery costed around Rs 2.5 lakh and the whole treatment costs is about Rs 7 lakh.