Gurbinder went from amputee to standing on his own
Gurbinder Singh, Indian expat and former crane operator from Jalandhar, Punjab, was looking at a bleak future when Khaleej Times met him in June. Singh, 42, lost his limbs following an accident at his work site in February, and was consigned to a wheelchair.
Post the accident, he was airlifted from his company site on Zirku Island (140km away from the capital) to Mafraq Hospital for treatment. The injury that he sustained became infected and developed into a series of complications. Singh had to quickly be operated on.
“I was working at the site on February 14 and I injured my left knee while climbing a crane. At the hospital, I was kept in the intensive care unit. My kidneys had failed and my blood pressure had dipped. I was 99 per cent dead and was on a heavy dosage of medicines, ” Singh had told Khaleej Times from his room in Baniyas.
“By the first week of March, my hands and legs had turned black. And by the second week of April, doctors told me that they needed to amputate both my legs and both my arms in order to save my life. I don’t know how all this happened from a small injury.”
According to the report from Mafraq Hospital, Singh was diagnosed with septic shock and severe left knee necrotising cellulitis (a bacterial infection), which required surgical removal of foreign material and dead tissue from around the area of injury to prevent further spread of infection.
Even before he was discharged from hospital, Singh was terminated from his job with a final settlement of Dh5,750. He did not receive the insurance amount due from his company and had no choice but to survive on small financial contributions from colleagues.
His wife Rajwinder Kaur, who flew in to Abu Dhabi to be with her husband, was clueless about paperwork needed to fight his case. Kaur was devastated at the news of her husband’s amputation and didn’t know what do to about the children. “Our children have stopped going to school (their daughter is in Class 12, and son in Class 8). I don’t know how to pay off the loan we had taken to build a house.” Kaur broke down while speaking to Khaleej Times.
The Indian Embassy intervened after reading the KT story
(‘Expat who lost hands, legs says he is as good as dead’, published on June 9). They spoke to Singh’s employers, who then compensated Singh with Dh200,000.
The Sikh community united to support Singh. The Punjabi community contributed Rs1.1 million (Dh57,700). The India Social and Cultural Centre gave Rs500,000 (Dh26,200). The Indian Islamic Centre Abu Dhabi Rs100,000 (Dh5,200) and the Gujarati Samaj Abu Dhabi too, Rs100,000 (Dh5,200).
Dubai-headquartered Aster Healthcare also offered help. They began investigating Singh’s medical condition and provided him with a custom-made wheelchair.
Their medical team in Dubai, combined with its specialised care centre in Kochi, were committed to get him well and conducted physiotherapy sessions. Singh does his physio everyday without fail.
Jaleel PA from the corporate social responsibility team at Aster DM Healthcare, said it was a collective effort from the management, doctors, paramedics and Aster volunteers to help Singh. “The wheelchair is customised for him and made in the UK. Our pharmacy team made changes to suit Gurbinder’s requirements.”
With the contributions from the community and compensation package, Singh was able to return to Jalandhar, his hometown, for further rehabilitation.
An Abu Dhabi based wellwisher had been following Gurbinder’s case closely. Surjit Singh, a UAE-based community leader and president of the Indian Punjabi Business and Professional Forum even helped to identify the right hospital for his friend. Surjit suggested KGM Bone Hospital, Jalandhar saying, “I put myself in his position and never had the heart to leave him alone. I was careful not to make a wrong choice. We also touched base with Ottobock, the manufacturer of artificial limbs. After knowing about the entire case, they gave a subsidy and it cost Rs700,000 (Dh36,765).
As if on the cue, I received a call from my friend Rohit Kochhar, who knew about the case and donated Rs500,000 (Dh26,260). It was like divine intervention. Everything fell into place. Dr Kulwant didn’t wait for the payment. he immediately started working on Gurbinder’s rehabilitation. I must note that everyone I spoke to knew about the Khaleej
Times report,” Surjit Singh said.
December 15 was a big day in the life of Gurbinder Singh. The operation was a success. He was fitted with prosthetic legs. And on his left arm received sensors to help him regain mobility. After many excruciating months, Singh stood on his own legs. All the compensation amount and contributions from the community is deposited in the bank and remains untouched.
Discharged from hospital, Singh is now back home (the building of which is nearing completion), and his kids are back at school.
Singh continues with his physiotherapy sessions and has started walking inside the house.
He told Khaleej Times this week on a phonecall from Jalandhar, “I am standing right now as we talk. I am back on my legs. I walk slowly as it will take few weeks to get used to the prosthetics,” he said, adding, “I thank everyone in the community, especially Surjit Singh. And it all started with your KT report. I got my artificial limbs, and after a month, maybe on Jan 15, I will undergo another surgery and I will get my right hand.”
His wife, Rajwinder, said even as he lost his limbs, the tragedy didn’t break his spirit. “Today I am very happy. We still receive calls from people in the UAE asking about our well-being.” Singh acknowledged the support of his wife and about his family, “Now that I can stand, I hope to make their lives secure.”
Our children had stopped going to school, and I didn’t know how to pay off the loan we had taken to build our house
Rajwinder Kaur, Gurbinder’s wife