Air ambulance takes Surat's Sonpari to parents

SURAT: Amid all the chaos across the globe owing to the pandemic, hope shines through Sonpari, a miracle baby born via IVF in Surat hospital to Bengaluru parents.
While the stork deposited the bundle of joy on March 29 at the 21st Century Hospital, her doting parents ensured that their baby comes home to their waiting arms in an air ambulance, all the way to Bengaluru.
It all began with the business couple desperate to get their own baby coming all the way to Surat to get help. "Sonpari's parents visited us a year ago, as the mother had a problem with her uterus and advised to go for IVF with surrogacy," said Dr Pooja Nadkarni Singh, gynaecologist, who delivered the baby along with Dr Purnima Nadkarni.
The girl was born on March 29 amid the nationwide lockdown. "This left the new surrogate parents nervous as they could neither drive down nor fly to Surat. We were constantly communicating with the parents via video calls and they couldn't wait to hold their newborn in their arms," said Dr Singh.
Meanwhile, the healthy baby charmed her way into the hearts hospital staff who took utmost care of her for 17 days.
At the same time, process continued from the hospital end as the parents to find a way to deliver the precious package to the rightful owner. "After a lot of running around, the parents could arrange for an air ambulance from Delhi to have the baby collected from Surat and delivered to them," said Dr Singh.
"The hospital staff bid an emotional farewell to Sonpari, who they handed over to the air ambulance nurses at Surat airport at 2pm. The infant was flown directly to Bengaluru and was in her father's arms by 5pm. We ensured that the baby spent minimal time at the airport, looking at her fragility and so got her a special boarding pass, stating her as 'Baby of ....'," Dr Singh added.
Speaking with TOI over phone, her 42-year-old father said, "We were desperate to hold our baby in our arms and it's a magical moment. The entire house is celebrating her arrival.
Hospital director Dr Prabhakar Singh expressed his deep gratitude to the airport staff including director Aman Saini for the baby's smooth transition to Bengaluru. "I also thank MLA Harsh Sanghvi and collector Dhaval Patel, who took care of the required protocol formalities," he added.