While girls of her age dream of endless possibilities that life has to offer, 13-year-old Bibhabari Samal was deprived of it as she was battling with a rare disease forcing her eyes to remain shut.
A native of Padmapur in Keonjhar district, Bibhabari had been suffering from the condition called ‘Cherubism’, an auto-inflammatory bone disease, for over five years. She had an unusual swelling of the face, unable to open her eyes leading to gradual impairment of eyes sight.
Her upper jaw had entered into the orbits making her unable to open her eyes. An eye had been popped out. Cost of the treatment was very expensive.
After failing to get it cured in other hospitals, her parents brought her to the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar for consultation. Subsequently, a surgery was conducted on the girl by a team of doctors. After 6 days of stay, the girl was discharged. She is now able to see as her eyes have opened following the surgery. Presently, the girl is attending her school and leading a normal life. She is under regular follow-up at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
This is a first-of-its-kind operation conducted at the hospital by a team of doctors comprising of Dr Mounabati Mohapatra, Prof & HOD, Department of Dentistry, Dr Kiran Kumar Boyina, Department of Trauma and Emergency and Dr Bhagabat Nayak, Department of Ophthalmology and Residents of respective departments.