Injured while saving her kids in accident, she wants surgery but cost is an issue
By
Estelle Low
Mrs Shanti Baskaralingam, 34, with her family (from left) Sarugesh, four, Pratheepa, 16, husband Maheswaran, 46, and Nithya, 14. A toe-to-thumb operation could cost the family an estimated $27,000. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
HER brave act, and love for her children, cost Mrs Shanti Baskaralingam her right thumb.
A year ago on May 16, a lorry hit the housewife on a pavement along Toa Payoh Lorong 8, opposite Block 210, as she was taking a morning walk with her son and daughter.
The incident took place at about 9.45am.
When she saw the runaway lorry barrelling towards her two children, Mrs Baskaralingam reacted by pushing them to safety.
But the vehicle hit her and she suffered multiple fractures and severe injuries to both hands. Her right thumb, severed on the spot, was not found in time to be re-attached.
Her then three-year-old son Sarugesh suffered a hip fracture from the impact of his fall as he was pushed away. Daughter Pratheepa, then 15, escaped unhurt.
Lorry driver Goh Kok Keng was later banned from driving for six months and fined $5,000.
Mrs Baskaralingam, 34, now has a chance to have a 'new thumb', taken from one of her toes, in a procedure called toe-to-thumb surgery.
She told The Sunday Times that she was initially afraid of the operation but now wants to have it after much persuasion and support from her family and relatives.
'I'm looking forward to it so I can use my right hand and lead a normal life like before,' she revealed, when the newspaper decided to check on how she was faring one year after the accident.
