My child had an upset stomach because of the top feed. She was passing motions often and there was no one to look after her. The nurses were fed up, so they discharged me early. My stitches were supposed to be removed on December 7, but they removed them on December 4 itself. And I have wounds on my head that were not even looked at," says Sunita.
She says her chest still hurts and milk still leaks out of her lacerated breast. Sunita has been given medicines, including a tablet that will stop her from producing milk. Yet, she continues to feed her daughter.
"Maanti hi nahin (She does not listen). She is not used to external feeds. She cries when she has to have other milk," says the young mother. She is very worried about Sheetal losing a kilo since the incident and so feeds her despite being in acute pain.
In the paediatric ward, the otherwise calm Sheetal is a favourite. Other mothers stop by for a smile, a cuddle or a little chat. And Sheetal gurgles happily in reply. "Uska koi tension nahin hain (She does not give any trouble)," says Sunita's uncle Ramdhin Yadav fondly. Ramdhin lives in Goregaon, northwest Mumbai, and drives an autorickshaw for a living.
However, Sheetal and her daughter's problems are far from ending. Sheetal has a 5mm piece of glass embedded in her head, says her mother. The doctors have told her it cannot be removed right now since Sheetal is too young to undergo the operation. They have assured Sunita that the shard will not harm her. She has been told to come back after a year or two, when Sheetal will be strong enough to withstand the operation.
The compensation money that has come in has only compounded their problems. Her husband's elder brother, who also works at Vapi, was initially with the family. Until he learnt of his brother's death
"He asked me for the compensation cheque of Rs 50,000 that I had received. I trusted him and gave it. Later, when he said he was going to the village, I asked him for the cheque. He said he did not have it. Then he said I would have to go to the village if I wanted anything. I think we might get some more compensation there, but I will need to be present."
Image: At the paediatric ward, Sheetal is a favourite with the other patients.
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