Within 24 hrs, enough money raised for Delhi woman restricted to bed with rare bone disorder

Savita needs hip replacement and spine-correction surgeries to replace the damaged bones. While the surgeries will be done free at the government-run Lok Nayak hospital, where she has been undergoing treatment, the implants cost around R 3 lakh, which the family cannot afford.

Help poured in for Savita, 35, who has spent the past two years curled up in bed in a foetal position because a crippling condition -- ankylosing spondylitis -- makes it impossible for her to move.

Savita, who is suffering from a rare bone problems at her residence in Shahadra in New Delhi. (Sushil Kumar/HT PHOTO)

After reading a report in HT, people started calling with offers and within 24 hours, enough funds were generated for her to undergo correctional surgeries.

Savita needs hip replacement and spine-correction surgeries to replace the damaged bones. While the surgeries will be done free at the government-run Lok Nayak hospital, where she has been undergoing treatment, the implants cost around R 3 lakh, which the family cannot afford.

Around 12 people, including some non-profit organisations, have come forward to help.

“After the story was published, I have received calls from people, including two non-profit organisations, who want to help her get the surgery done as soon as possible,” said Dr Ajay Gupta, professor of orthopaedics at Lok Nayak hospital, who is treating Savita.

For the last two years, she has not been able to gather funds for the surgeries. The family has also not been able to get help under the Delhi Arogya Kosh as they do not belong to the economically weaker sections, defined as families earning less than R3 lakh a year.

Ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis affecting the spine and the large joints of the body such as the hip, affects around 0.1% to 1.4% of the population, but is usually seen in men.

“The onset of the disease is during the teenage years and the bone damage starts in the 30s. But this case is uncommon because it has happened in a woman and her joints are almost completely damaged and she is just 35,” said Ajay Gupta.

After the surgeries, she will be able to move around on her own and will no longer be in pain as the damaged joints will completely be removed.