Bangalore, India – July 2025
In the bustling suburb of Hoskote, Bangalore, a story unfolded that speaks to the very heart of modern medicine — a story of grit, grace, and the triumph of life against overwhelming odds. A critically ill three-year-old girl, her life hanging by a thread, was brought back from the edge thanks to the extraordinary coordination, expertise, and compassion of the team at Ovum Woman and Child Speciality Hospital.
This is more than a story of survival — it is a story of hope, healing, and medical excellence, powered by swift diagnosis, world-class pediatric intensive care, and seamless multidisciplinary collaboration.
The Child Who Defied the Odds
Born of a consanguineous marriage and living with a mild developmental delay, the little girl had already faced more challenges than most children her age. But nothing could have prepared her family for the life-threatening crisis that unfolded when she was rushed to the Emergency Room at Ovum Hospital in an unresponsive state.
She had suffered a day of loose stools and breathing difficulty — symptoms that escalated into a terrifying cascade. Upon arrival, her oxygen saturation was a dangerously low 45%, blood pressure had plummeted to 70/30 mmHg, and she was in obvious respiratory distress and shock.
In many places, this might have been a point of no return. But not at Ovum.
The Emergency Response: Rapid, Resilient, Relentless
Dr. Pramod V U, PICU Incharge, and Dr. Somashekhar P V, PICU Consultant, immediately assumed leadership. With no time to lose, the emergency team began life-saving interventions.
Initial bag-mask ventilation failed to raise her oxygen levels. In line with advanced pediatric critical care protocols, she was swiftly intubated using rapid sequence intubation. Frothy secretions confirmed pulmonary edema, and a bedside ultrasound revealed moderate left ventricular dysfunction and fluid overload — signs pointing toward a complex metabolic or cardiac event.
A dose of Lasix was given, and the child was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where a higher level of monitoring and intervention awaited.
PICU: Where Science Meets Soul
Inside the PICU, cutting-edge ventilator support, advanced hemodynamic monitoring, and emergency pharmacological therapies were launched in parallel. The team faced daunting lab results: severe metabolic acidosis, with unrecordable pH and bicarbonate, and a dangerously elevated lactate level of 9.2 mmol/L — suggesting a possible mitochondrial crisis.
Recognizing the need for a broad-spectrum approach, doctors immediately initiated empirical antibiotics while launching a metabolic cocktail therapy including thiamine, biotin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, Coenzyme Q10, and carnitine. This combination, often used in suspected mitochondrial or inborn errors of metabolism, became the cornerstone of initial therapy.
A Neurological Perspective: Thinking Beyond the Obvious
But her unresponsiveness raised further alarms. Was this purely a metabolic derangement — or was her brain at risk?
Enter Dr. Sharath Babu M D, Consultant Pediatric Neurologist. His arrival brought critical neurological expertise into the mix. He recommended neuroprotective strategies, including the administration of hypertonic saline and close monitoring of neurological function.
Under his guidance, the team balanced ventilator settings with cerebral protection protocols, ensuring that even as the child’s body stabilized, her brain’s recovery was not left to chance.
The Turnaround: A Miracle in Motion
What followed in the next 24 hours was nothing short of a miracle. Slowly but surely, the tide began to turn.
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Her metabolic parameters stabilized.
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She tolerated a CPAP trial and was extubated successfully.
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Her consciousness improved, and inotropic support was weaned off.
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By Day 3, she was breathing room air and had resumed oral feeding.
Blood cultures came back sterile, and antibiotics were discontinued by Day 5 — a significant milestone that marked the resolution of acute infection concerns.
The Final Piece: A Rare Diagnosis Confirmed
Though she was improving clinically, the medical team pursued a definitive diagnosis. Geneticists conducted Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), which confirmed the rare condition: Mitochondrial Complex III Deficiency — a disorder affecting the body’s ability to generate energy at the cellular level.
Armed with this diagnosis, Ovum’s team tailored her long-term treatment plan, continuing the mitochondrial cocktail as a lifelong therapy. Parents were counselled, educated, and empowered — a testament to Ovum’s holistic approach.
A Discharge That Meant the World
On the fifth day, the child was discharged — alert, feeding, responsive, and full of life. She walked out of the hospital, not just as a survivor, but as a symbol of what modern medicine can achieve when knowledge, compassion, and coordination come together.
Voices from the Frontline
Dr. Venugopal Reddy, Medical Director of Ovum Group of Hospitals, shared his reflections:
“This successful recovery is a proud moment for our team. The coordinated efforts of our emergency unit, PICU experts, and pediatric neurologist demonstrate the strength of our integrated child care system. Ovum Hospitals is built on the belief that every child deserves the best chance — and this case shows that when those chances are created, miracles can happen.”
About Ovum Hospitals
Ovum Woman and Child Speciality Hospitals is a premier chain of centers across Bangalore, specializing in Pediatrics, Neonatology, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Fertility. Known for its evidence-based, compassionate, and family-centered approach, Ovum provides comprehensive care under one roof, ensuring that every patient — especially the smallest among us — receives the attention, skill, and heart they deserve.
With expert physicians, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and a culture rooted in collaboration, Ovum is redefining maternal and child health in India.
This story isn’t just about saving a life. It’s about elevating care. It’s about believing in better. And it’s about the power of hope — something that Ovum Hospital delivers every single day.