A Second Chance! - Simran Chhotray

"I was a different kid since birth. After Maa delivered me, I stayed on ventilator for 21 days because my life expectancy was very low. I was never anyone's favorite kid (not in case of my parents , but that of others). On the other hand, my sister was loved by all. My sister and I went to the same school and I was always compared with her by our friends and teachers.

When I was 14, I had my first operation. For a kid who had barely grown up, the operation theatre was a nightmare. The days in the hospital were painful. After nine months of the operation, I had another one.Years went by, I finished my 10th and moved out to another school. I never really had any friends over those past years. When I moved to the other school, I made good friends and found my best friend. I felt blessed after she came into my life.

During my board exams, out of nowhere my back started to ache. I thought it was because of my late night schedule, but slowly the pain started to increase and I could barely sit for like five minutes. After my boards got over, I went to see a neurosurgeon. People say, doctors are next to God, but I never believed in it. My perception changed when I met Dr. Narendra Kumar Das. I had never seen a doctor so cool, happy and understanding.

When he examined my issue, he said that it was a very rare condition. Apparently, it was a dead vein that should've ended in my L1 bone, but was extended to L5 and because of that I had backache. The only option I had was surgery.My success rate was 20 out of 100. If the surgery was unsuccessful, then it would've led me to use a wheelchair forever. The eight hour surgery was successful. I'll never forget the man who gave me a second life.

It was in 3rd year of my college when I opened an organization, Guardians of Greenery', to aware people about climate change. It's been a year to my organization and it's running well. Today, I write stories and poems. From a baby who barely survived, never fit in and had three operations to a girl who is writing poems, fighting depression and establishing an organization, I've come a long way." - Simran Chhotray