Barts and The London Centre for Neurosciences | Patient stories | Sarbjit's story
Sarbjit's story
Sarbjit Pandit was seven months pregnant when she was brought to The Royal London Hospital in a coma, having suffered a critical brain haemorrhage. Sarbjit immediately underwent a life-saving craniotomy operation late at night to remove the blood clot in the brain, and over the course of two further days, had five other operations at the hospital, including a tracheostomy to help her breathe and an emergency caesarean section - to save her baby's life.
When Sarbjit initially came to the Centre for Neurosciences, a special angiogram of the blood vessels of Sarbjit's brain showed that the haemorrhage was the result of an abnormal collection of blood vessels in the brain, known as an AVM, which had ruptured. The position of the AVM within the brain meant that Sarbjit also had problems with movement on the left side of her body, causing severe paralysis.
Following neurosurgery, Sarbjit gradually recovered in the intensive treatment unit (ITU) and later on the neurosurgery ward. Her baby boy, Simran, who was delivered healthy and well, was looked after in the special care baby unit for the first few weeks of his life.
After receiving further specialist treatment including physiotherapy and occupational therapy, Sarbjit made a remarkable improvement and was able to walk out of the hospital a few weeks later to be at home with her family.
Consultant Neurosurgeon, Mr John Wadley, who has been amazed at her progress, has been managing Sarbjit's ongoing treatment to prevent a further haemorrhage from the AVM, using gamma knife treatment. Sarbjit has undergone stage II gamma knife treatment, which becomes effective over a period of about two years.
Sarbjit remains very well after her rermarkable recovery over two years ago. Her son, Simran, born by emergency Caesarian section is now over two years of age and is thriving.
