Chamray came to us in March of 2003 from Leh. While working on a wall as a construction worker he was injured when the wall collapsed. He sustained a vertebral fracture at T4 level. He was first taken to the hospital in Leh where he remained for two weeks. He was referred to Chandigarh from there. He went to Chandigarh, but did not receive any treatment and after two more weeks came to us. He was skeletal, with his entire back replaced by a huge bedsore deep to the bone, and he also had bedsores on both hips. After trying to dress the wounds, we realised it was a losing battle, since we could look into both hip joints. He was abandoned here by his relatives.

He underwent a disarticulation on one side first, then on the other. We did not think he would survive.

He did. He slowly began to heal, and then put on some weight. Our physiotherapy department worked very hard with him. We were all surprised one day when his wife turned up from Nepal with a baby even he had not seen, since she was just expecting when he left home.

This couple endeared themselves to us and this reunion gave Chamray incentive to be assiduous about his exercise programme. Our physiotherapists were able to get him to the point of independant caring and mobilisation in bed. Dr. Sheila donated her father's wheelchair to him. He was doing intermittent clean catheterisation.

After being in hospital for over one and half years, the time came for him to return. All this time, the hospital had supported him and cared for him. He had become part of the hospital, so it was with mixed feelings we watched this couple go back home.

We still think of him often, and wonder where he is and what he is doing.

Good luck Chamray.