Jaipur: A 21-year-old Indian MBBS student from Jaipur, Aayush Sharma, was airlifted from Russia and brought to his hometown on Tuesday after suffering a massive brain stroke that left him in a critical condition. The incident highlights the severe challenges and medical vulnerabilities faced by Indian students studying abroad.
A Medical Dream Turns into a Nightmare in Russia
Aayush Sharma, a promising student at the Stavropol State Medical University in Russia, suddenly collapsed last week. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors diagnosed him with Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST), a rare and dangerous condition where a blood clot forms in the brain’s venous sinuses.
The news left his family in Jaipur in a state of shock and helplessness, facing language barriers and the complexities of a foreign medical system while their son fought for his life in a coma, supported by a ventilator.
Family’s Agony and a Race Against Time
“We felt utterly helpless,” said Rakesh Sharma, Aayush’s father. “Our son was in a coma, on a ventilator, in a country where we knew no one. The medical bills were mounting, and we couldn’t even communicate properly with the doctors to understand his exact condition.”
Realizing that bringing Aayush home was the best option for his long-term care, the family launched urgent appeals on social media and contacted government officials, setting in motion a complex evacuation process.
Government and Embassy Coordinate Complex Airlift
In a remarkable show of support, the Indian Embassy in Moscow and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) intervened swiftly. Officials worked around the clock to handle the necessary paperwork, coordinate with Russian authorities, and arrange for a high-risk medical evacuation.
An air ambulance, equipped as a mobile Intensive Care Unit (ICU), was dispatched to transport Aayush. A specialized medical team, including doctors and paramedics, monitored his fragile condition throughout the tense, nearly 10-hour flight from Russia to India.
Back on Home Soil: Treatment Begins in Jaipur
The air ambulance landed at Jaipur International Airport on Tuesday evening, where a local ambulance was waiting on the tarmac. Aayush was immediately transferred to the neuro-ICU of a private multispecialty hospital in the city.
Doctors in Jaipur have confirmed that his condition remains critical but stable. A team of neurologists is closely monitoring him and developing a comprehensive treatment plan. While the road to recovery is long, his family expressed immense relief and gratitude.
“Seeing him here, in our own city, is a feeling I cannot describe,” his father said emotionally. “We are immensely grateful to the Indian government, our friends, and everyone who prayed for our son. Now, we can focus completely on his recovery.”
