Hiba’s Life Changing Story Of Brain Tumour Surgery in India 

Brain tumours are hard to treat and survival remains very low. That’s why brain tumour research is one of top priorities in India. Hiba Bankole parents shares their experience of a successful brain tumour surgery in India.

Six-year-old Hiba Bankole had been having chronic headaches for several months. Her neurological exam was normal. Hiba’s doctors back in Sudan were fairly confident that her headaches were due to sinus pressure and treated her for a sinus infection and strep throat. When she later had her tonsils removed, the headaches went away. Then few weeks later, on the way to school, Hiba was overcome with head pain and vomiting.

Her pediatrician referred Hiba to a neurologist, who treated her for migraine headaches, but the headaches and vomiting increased. At that point, Hiba was addimitted to hospital, where an MRI scan of her brain showed a large lesion. Hiba had a tumor affecting the pituitary gland at the base of her skull. The MRI showed that her tumor was a craniopharyngiomas close to the pituitary gland.

This type of tumor has fluid-filled cysts within it, as well as a solid component. Hiba’s had ballooned up into the third ventricle, preventing her spinal fluid from draining normally. If the tumor grew just a little bit more, it could completely block the spinal fluid pathways and make Hiba acutely ill.

Well, Hiba’s family was looking for treatment options outside Sudan as one of my doctors suggested that they can avail best neurosurgery India and there are many good doctors in India. They scrolled through the internet to look for best doctors and hospitals in India. This patient and his parents obviously wanted to get the best treatment possible for her problem one day; Bankole came across Dheeraj Bojwani Consultant page in Facebook.

So, they dropped a query and got a prompt response. It was with their help that they came to India for my treatment. After looking at a couple of hospitals and doctors recommended by Dheeraj Bojwani Consultant, I finally had my treatment under them. 

When the surgeon told that Hiba would have to undergo a surgery, they were really scared because they didn’t know how the whole thing was going to be like. They had many questions whether it would be safe, can the child go back to her country back safely or die here in India. They fell silent for a few minutes. But Dheeraj Bojwani Consultant patient manager encouraged them to go through Hiba’s surgery and had supported them throughout.

Hiba’s mother said “Though I accepted to do it, inside I thought all was lost. The treatment went really well the surgeons had helped us a lot. He told us that removal of the tumour was the only way to get back to normal life again. 

I must say he has an expert hand in surgery not only because the operation is successful but also because Hiba feels a lot better now and is recovering fast. There was no pain. The patient care facility in the hospital is commendable. I didn’t even want to leave the hospital as they were so nice.”

The traditional approach to lesions of this kind is an open craniotomy, which requires a large incision across the scalp and skull in order to reach the tumor. Rather than a craniotomy, Hiba’s surgical team encouraged minimally invasive Endoscopic Endonasal approach (EEA) surgical procedure through the nose and sinuses. With this minimally invasive approach, they removed the lesion entirely without disrupting Hiba’s brain, blood vessels, or critical nerves. Following surgery, Hiba’s MRI showed no tumor. 

Her recovery was pain free and after six weeks she was back to herself— going for walks, dancing, and back in preschool,” says her mother. “No more headaches. She's looking forward to playing soccer, her favorite sport, in the spring.”

Hiba’s parents said, “Dheeraj Bojwani Consultant is the one who has guided us to the right treatment. They are very helpful. Apart from providing us with options of doctors and hospital, they have also provided pick up services from the airport and gave me a suitable accommodation.

Our patient manager accompanied us to the hospital, made sure that the hospital charged according to the cost estimates and took care that the surgery was done properly.

Before coming to India they had given us quote and they negotiated with the hospital for discounts to keep the final bill within that price. So, they are very reliable people on whom you can trust completely.