Philanthropic Doc gives life to poor farmer’s wife

By Vikas Vaidya

The philanthropic approach of Dr Pinak Dande saved life of poor farmer’s wife. Dr Dande has not only came forward to save her, but also gave complete treatment free of cost. Ashraf Bee, the patient was discharged in a glittering function at hospital itself.
Tanekhan, a poor farmer of Adgaon, Tahsil Ner, district Yavatmal was facing burden of loan. In between he lost his young married son who committed suicide as he couldnt see plight of his father. To add to the woe of Tanekhan, his wife developed tumor at knee. He took her to Wardha, Nagpur, Yavatmal for the treatment and spent some 4-5 lakh rupees but in vain!
Two young professionals came across the plight of  poor farmer’s wife. Sensibility in them did not allow them to sit idle. They approached Dr Pinak Dande. They did not have to convince him, on the contrary Dr Dande himself showed willingness to treat the woman free of cost. Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Satyajeet Jagtap and Anaesthesiologist Dr Girish Thakare too joined the philanthropic work. The staff of Dande Hospital too participated in the crusade with enthusiasm. Tanekhan and his wife both were happy and satisfied. They were given discharge like a send-off function. Dande hospital gave him and Ashraf Bee a token of love. His relatives came all the time from his village in Yavatmal district to take both of them back.
Ashraf Bee was suffering from growing malignant tumor at knee. She thought that it might have been small injury so she used to do dressing at home regularly with the help of available poor tools.
Dr Dande visited her home. The dressing was opened and they saw the tumor looking like vegetable Cauli-flower. Being a medico, Dr Dande understood the issue and seriousness also. He saw all the papers of Ashraf bee. He assured them that something could be done. But he realised that the leg was to be amputed else she would lose life.
How to convince the poor couple that Ashraf Bee would be without leg? It was a million dollar question. Tanekhan was counseled and he was given the task of convincing his wife. Both got ready.
They reached Nagpur and on November 18 she was taken to Operation Theatre where noted Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Satyajeet Jagtap and well-known Anaesthesiologist Dr Girish Thakare were waiting. Dr Siddharth Jagtap, second surgeon assisted in the surgery.  Her leg was amputed, she stayed at hospital. The bigger task was to make heal the injury. Dr Jagtap and Dr Dande both monitored the situation. The post-operative rehabilitation was important and here the role of Physiotherapist Tejashri Ingle came. She did her work perfectly. The injury got recovered and on December 2, Wednesday she was discharged. A grand function was held at the hospital wherein Senior Lawyer of High Court, noted activist who is known for ‘Sinchan Shodh Yatra’, President of Janmanch Adv Anil Kilor, senior journalist Bal Kulkarni, Tanekhan, Shripad Aparaji, Editor of Maharashtra Times, Gajanan Janbhor, City Editor of Lokmat, Dr Satyajeet Jagtap, Dr Girish Thakare, Bhakar Londhe, Avinash Mahalaxme were present.
Dr Dande did all expenditure, except that some fund was raised by an organisation ‘Aapulki’ of Abhijeet Falke that had organised a programme to raise fund for the surgery.
Everybody called Dr Dande, a doctor with compassion towards society. Adv Anil Kilor said that bad things were pointed by everybody but good things too should be highlighted. Everybody patted on the backs of the staff of Dande Hospital who took care of Ashraf Bee with compassion. Dr Dande has made it clear that he would not stop here. Now as the leg was amputed, he would provide her top-class artificial limb so that she would be able to walk on her own.
Tanekhan was highly oblidged and his speech he specially mentioned the name of Dr Dande and his support. According to him, had Dr Dande not been there his wife would not have seen this day.