Bijaliben Dalvi, an expectant mother, was bitten by a Russell’s viper, one of the world’s most venomous snakes. The timely administering of an antidote saved Bijaliben’s life, but led to complications for her unborn baby. The next day itself, her infant was prematurely delivered with an extremely low birth weight of 1.75 kgs. When the baby did not cry and did not start breathing, she was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital.
The parents, fearing their inability to cover high hospital bills, were relieved when the hospital readily agreed to provide treatment absolutely free. The baby was diagnosed with venom toxicity and was immediately given an anti-venom injection. The child was kept at the NICU for a period of 26 days. On discharge, the baby was in good health, ready to begin her journey of life.