A helping hand

Over the past year, Imaginarium has placed 3D-printed parts in space, in human bodies, in oil fields in the Middle East, and as drones on the Indian border

- Nirmal Jovial

On October 30, 2022, Anamta Ahmed, a 13-year-old Mumbai girl, travelled with her family to her relatives' home in Aligarh for Diwali. Ahmed was always fascinated by terraces, not being able to enjoy them much in Mumbai. “That day, I was enjoying the view from the terrace with my cousins, feeling happy and carefree. While I was standing near the terrace railing, something unexpected happened,” she says.

Ahmed accidentally touched an 11KV wire passing by the terrace, resulting in severe electric shock. “Suddenly, I lost my vision, my body started shaking, and I heard a strange sound resonating through me. It was terrifying—I fainted and was rushed to a local hospital in Aligarh,” she recalls. Ahmed’s right hand developed gangrene; her left arm was also severely injured with poor function.

At the hospital, Ahmed heard the shocking news—her right hand would need to be amputated. Seeking a second opinion, her family took her to a top private hospital in Delhi. But the doctors there confirmed the diagnosis. Left with no option, she was airlifted to Mumbai and admitted at the National Burn Centre. And there she underwent amputation.

Post-amputation, Ahmed found the strength to rebuild her life. She remained optimistic, resuming school without delay and tackling daily challenges by herself. Determined, she learned to write with her left hand and scored 92 percent in her Class 10 exams. Meanwhile, her family explored options, eventually zeroing in on hand transplant. And, in October 2024, she became the youngest recipient in Asia to successfully undergo a shoulder-level limb transplant at Gleneagles Hospital in Parel, Mumbai.