Mumbai: Tiny Bhiwandi Infant Survives Life-Threatening Pneumonia After 35 Minutes of CPR
Bhiwandi, 22nd August 2025: A mother, Nafisa (name changed), is still coming to terms with how what seemed like a minor cold in her 75-day-old son escalated into a life-threatening chest infection. The newborn required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after a bacterial pneumonia-induced oxygen shortage triggered seizures and caused his heart to stop. The resuscitation lasted an astonishing 35 minutes, a duration considered extremely risky by some medical experts.
Despite the frightening ordeal, both Nafisa and paediatric intensivist Dr. Guruprasad Shanbaug, who treated the baby at KIMS Hospital in Thane, are sharing the story to highlight the child’s remarkable recovery. “Even brief interruptions in oxygen supply can lead to brain damage, yet he has regained normal development. He is feeding well, making eye contact, and steadily gaining weight. This is an exceptional outcome,” Dr. Shanbaug said.
The trouble began on July 10, when Nafisa noticed her son had a cold. She initially treated him with nasal sprays, steam inhalation, and medicines recommended by a local doctor. However, on the fifth day, the baby experienced seizures. Nafisa and her husband, a tailor, searched across Bhiwandi for a neonatal ICU bed and finally secured one at the newly opened KIMS Hospital in Thane.
Dr. Shanbaug explained, “The infant had been seizing for about an hour before reaching our hospital on July 14. We administered anticonvulsants to control the seizures and provided ventilation when his heart stopped.” Using a defibrillator, the team was able to restore the child’s heartbeat and continued with specialized CPR methods suitable for a newborn.
After 20 more days of intensive care, the infant gradually returned to normal health. Nafisa, relieved and grateful, said, “It was terrifying to see my baby like that, but the doctors’ quick action saved his life. I’m just thankful he’s now safe and healthy.”
