MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN

A leading luminary in India?s field of pediatric surgery Dr. Shanti Talwar is Emeritus Sr. Consultant Pediatric Surgeon. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi

Remembered for her uncompromising standards as a pediatric Surgeon she is a legend amongst peers, mentors and students for her great pioneering work in Maulana Azad Medical College and Delhi University in Saving Neonates and children with serious anomalies.

She has been a warrior clad in dignity and grace, who with steely resolve has struggled to have her voice hearted over the clamour of the opposition of the surgery Department and the bureaucrats at the time. She has fought with unbridled zeal, the tangle of red tape and professional apathy, to be single handedly instrumental in developing and nurturing an independent Department of Pediatric Surgery and post graduate M.ch (Pediatric Surgery) Degree course at Maulana Azad Medical College with Associated Hospitals and Delhi University.

All These Victories have not come without great costs, whether it was the sacrifices made professionally and personally, or one?s health having to take a back seat, or coping with the responsibility of her aging parents.

Today she is content that she followed her heart and fought the good fight-and that the lives of hundreds of neonates have been saved by the department since she set it up. She is Happy too that Despite the great trauma it brought in her life. Also provided the impetus for a lifelong journey of fulfillment as a doctor, which she might never had otherwise.

?Whenever a newborn baby with major congenital malformation was brought to the hospital, the baby was either sent back home or if operated would die within 24 hours due to lack of proper infrastructure to manage these babies. I used to get very much disturbed. Various thoughts would come to my mind all the time: Can I do anything as general surgeon? Can there be a