Patient stories

Deepak's Story

My name is Deepak. I am 16 years old and I was an athlete in the past. My favourite sport was running and I won multiple medals and certificates as a runner. In October 2023, during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, I fell from my cycle while returning from a friend’s house and became unconscious for a few seconds. After that, I did not ride the cycle; I just picked it up and walked home. The next day, I noticed a few harmless scratches on my skin and did not go to school for a week.
After a week, when I went back to school, I noticed I could not control my walking and standing. I could not even stand properly for prayer. Gradually, I stopped walking and I could not even stand without support. It was heartbreaking. From being a runner, I became a wheelchair patient. My mother and I were completely shattered. We spent around 1 lakh rupees in hospitals, temples and faith healers but nothing helped. My worst decision, which I will never forget, was not consulting the right doctor early. Finally, someone advised us to consult Dr. Thomas Kishen in Bangalore. After almost one year of struggle, we decided to travel 250 km from my hometown to Bangalore. (September 2024)

Game changing moment – my doctor enters.

Dr. Thomas Kishen went through my MRIs and prescriptions. He really touched our hearts. My doctor told us that surgery was needed on my upper spine below the neck. When I heard this, my confidence rose to 100% because earlier I was told that I would not live more than 2 months. The surgery was expensive but the doctor made it very affordable through the Scoliosis Foundation. My Dodappa, my elder sister and her colleagues helped with funds. After 2–3 weeks, we went back to Bangalore to meet Dr. Thomas and was admitted on 18 October 2024 (Friday).

Pre surgery – do or die moment.
On Saturday, sir explained that the surgery was complex but they would do their best. On the morning of 20 October 2024, I woke up at 6 am and was taken into the pre operative room around 7:30 am and at 8:30 am I was anaesthetised. I woke up around 2–3 pm after the surgery. My back was in extreme pain, like it was burning and hurting a lot. I stayed admitted for 5 days and then went to my elder brother’s home. During the period in hospital, Dr. Thomas, came every day to see the movement in my legs.

Post surgery –
Day by day, my spine pain started decreasing and my legs began to move. We consulted a physiotherapist and started exercises 3-4 times per day at home. In February, I started walking with elbow crutches and sometimes a little without support. By April 2025, I was walking with a stick and sitting like a normal person in the waiting area. When Dr. Thomas saw me, I have never seen that level of happiness on a doctor’s face. Both of us were extremely happy. But Dr. Thomas’s happiness was on another level. I continued exercises and by August 2025, I was walking 2–3 km a day, with an average of 5,000–6,000 steps. From wheelchair to walking – it was unbelievable for everyone.

The moral of my story:
Do not get demotivated and let negative thoughts control you. Believe in yourself and in God. Do not trust quacks and please see a specialist doctor like I eventually did. I cannot thank Dr Thomas Kishen and his team for giving me a new life, for getting me out of my wheelchair and on my feet.

Master Deepak
Davangere, Karnataka.