The Healing Touch

Kalpana Verma : Mumbai, Sun Jun 23 2013,

James Nelson, 54, had lost all hope. Employed with the mechanical department of the South Western Railway, Nelson had had multiple hip replacement surgeries in the past. Now, the joint was infected and the implants were coming loose. To make matters worse, he was suffering from diabetes, hypertension and renal problems. When doctors in Bangalore gave up, he came to Mumbai. That last straw gave Nelson a new lease of life.

Nelson was admitted to Western Railway's Jagjivanram Hospital in Mumbai Central, where additional chief director and the head of the orthopaedic department Dr Jagdish Prasad Jain attended to him. With an experience of nearly three decades, Dr Jain is credited with bringing the lives of many a railway employee back on track.
"I was told at many multi-speciality hospitals in Bangalore that there was a risk to my life. However, after a complicated operation here, I am recovering fast, thanks to Dr Jain," said Nelson.
Similar is the case with many senior railway officials. Despite having the option of other hospitals in the country, they flock to Mumbai just for Jain's "healing touch".
Dr Jain, who has performed 15,000 surgeries, was nominated for Padma Shri last year. He, however, said, "My patients' blessings are no less than any award."
R K Shukla, retired GM, Southern Railway, moved to Dehradun after his knee replacement five years ago. At 76, he plays golf and has been a champion in Dehradun. "Before the surgery, I asked Dr Jain whether I will be able to play golf after the operation. He just smiled," Shukla said.
Ashwin Kumar Mitra, who retired as GM, Eastern Railway, was able to go on pilgrimage thanks to Dr Jain. "After the operation, I went to Tirupati, Badrinath, Muktinath in Nepal and Kanyakumari," said 75-year-old Mitra.
Jain, who did MS from Gwalior Medical College, was first posted at Jagjivamram in 1986 as assistant divisional medical officer. In 1996, he won a fellowship at Harvard University. He also obtained advance training in joint replacement surgery in Germany, France, UK, Singapore and Australia.