Mother donates skin to save burned infant after Air India plane crash

Eight-month-old Dhyaansh now smiles brightly, his cheeks glowing with health after surviving life-threatening burn injuries. The infant, who suffered 36% burns, has made a remarkable recovery following skin grafts donated by his mother, Manisha, 30. Both mother and child, wife and son of Dr Kapil Kachhadiya, a urology resident at Civil Hospital, were discharged recently after five weeks of treatment for severe burns sustained in the aftermath of the AI 171 plane crash on June 12, The Times of India reported.

According to ToI, the mother-son duo was in the BJ Medical College hostel and residential quarters in Meghaninagar when the crash caused a fire. "Everything went black for a moment and then heat engulfed our home," recalled Manisha. "I grabbed Dhyaansh and ran through thick smoke and flames. There was a moment I thought we would not make it out. But I had to, for my child. We have both been through pain I cannot put into words."

Manisha sustained 25% burns to her hands and face, while Dhyaansh suffered burns to his face, both arms, abdomen and chest. Both were rushed to KD Hospital, where Dhyaansh was admitted to the pediatric ICU and placed on a ventilator.


Dr Adit Desai, managing director of KD Hospital, told ToI, "It was deeply touching because of the mother's instinctive courage to save her child. From a medical standpoint, every department came together to ensure the best possible outcome." He added that the hospital provided free treatment to six patients injured in the AI 171 crash.

Plastic surgeon Dr Rutvij Parikh explained that both the infant’s own skin and his mother’s skin grafts were used for treatment. "His age was a major factor. We had to prevent infections and ensure normal growth. His and his mother’s recovery has been satisfactory," he said.

"Dr Kapil’s involvement as a father also helped immensely," Dr Parikh noted. "As a medical professional himself, he ensured the dressings were done properly, even late at night."

According to ToI, the multidisciplinary team treating Dhyaansh included neonatologist Dr Snehal Patel, pulmonologist Dr Tushar Patel and intensivist Dr Mansi Dandnaik. Dr Snehal Patel highlighted a serious complication: "Blood had rushed into one side of the child's lungs. He was on ventilatory support, and an intercostal drainage tube was inserted until good lung expansion was achieved."

With inputs from ToI