It was no more a phrase but became a reality for this family, when a heavy wooden log fell on their 5 year child. 

He was playing in the backyard that day when this log fell over his chest. The pain  was excruciating. When we asked mother to tell us about it, she complained that it happened because the boy is very naughty, never sits still and doesn’t listen to her Parents tried to manage with local medical help. But the child was constantly crying and restless. Over 2 nights, he grew more breathless. Swelling increased from the chest and got to the neck and lower face. As it kept worsening, his father finally brought him to SRH in an emergency.

In such situations, people still face the dilemma in the interior parts of South gujarat – either  to go to government hospitals that offer free services but the timely disposal remains doubtful or to rely on private ones where treatment outcomes may be promising but the bills can be exaggerated. Under these circumstances, bringing the child to a SRH, which is more than a 2 hour drive away, speaks volumes about trust that SRH has garnered over years. 

On examination and investigations, it was found air has entered his chest cavity but was outside lung and was pressing on it. Gradually, air also entered the area beneath the skin in the chest, neck and face, resulting in the swelling.

Thankfully, treatment for such problems is not expensive, but is definitely time-sensitive.  If not diagnosed and treated timely it could be life threatening. 

Fortunately, child got it in time and  was discharged on the 4th day. His mischievous activities resumed with a smile so broad that it matched nothing less than wide blue skies.