Kochi: College student Hanan Hameed, who was injured in a car accident on Monday, is likely to be bedridden for some time even as surgeons claimed her urgent operation was successful. The doctors at the Medical Trust Hospital, Ernakulam, stated it will take a while for Hanan to regain her limbs' mobility.
The badly injured young woman underwent a spinal surgery at the Medical Trust on Monday evening as her 12th vertebra was fractured in the mishap. Dr Haron, who performed the surgery, said she is yet to regain the mobility of her right hand and both her legs even after the surgery.
"The fractured vertebra has been fixed with a permanent implant. Taking her age, resilient health condition and body weight into consideration, Hanan should resume the mobility of her limbs in a short period of time if she is given good physiotherapy and healthcare," Dr Haron told Hanan's close circles.
The young woman hasn't realised her health condition fully and believes her limbs are immobile due to sedatives and anesthetics. Hanan, a native of Kochi, shot into limelight after her photograph of selling fish in her college uniform went viral on social media recently.
Meanwhile, hospital authorities are wondering how Hanan will cope after her discharge. She had been living alone in a rented house at Madavana in Kochi. At hospital, she is accompanied by one Priya, whom she had met only a couple of days ago.
K M Moosa, the chairman of Al-Azhar Group of institutions, where Hanan pursues an undergraduate course, has expressed his willingness to be her guardian and help her recover provided the government bears her medical expenses. The opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has also posted a Facebook status in support of Hanan.
"We have already got a paraplegic student at our college who is sponsored by the institution itself. He is residing at our multi-speciality hospital where his health is monitored and he is given proper physiotherapy. We are happy to host Hanan also, once she is discharged. But the pressing need is that of a woman caretaker who would look after Hanan well," Paijaz, the managing director of Al-Azhar Group told Onmanorama.
Govt to foot medical bills
Meanwhile, the Kerala government has decided to pay Hanan's medical bills. The government has reportedly sent an urgent official notification to the Medical Trust, promising to bear her entire medical expenses. The move comes after Chennithala apprised state minister EP Jayarajan about Hanan's condition.
"We are keeping a close track of Hanan's health and recovery. Hanan's tale of endurance and hard work had moved Keralites almost a month ago. It is our responsibility to support her during tough times. I gave a phone call to minister EP Jayarajan to explain Hanan's situation and he quickly agreed to bear her medical expenses. Hanan is the daughter of this government," Chennithala conveyed to Onmanorama through his spokesperson.
Hospital sources said the urgent surgery cost Rs 2.5 lakh. Moosa made an initial payment of Rs 1 lakh at the hospital.
After Hanan, 20, was targeted in an online defamation campaign recently, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had assured her wholehearted support from the government. He had then consoled the talented student, calling her 'government's daughter' and promised that the state would protect her like its own daughter.
Read more: Latest Kerala news
