Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India — Hardi Nayak, a 12-year-old student from Gandhinagar, found her childhood abruptly interrupted by a severe and perplexing medical condition: recurrent acute pancreatitis. Her mother, Urvashi Nayak, recounts a harrowing journey marked by escalating pain, multiple hospitalizations, and the profound distress of witnessing her only child suffer from an illness that doctors, for a time, could not fully explain or definitively treat. Hardi’s case offers a compelling illustration of the challenges in pediatric chronic care and the pivotal role of specialized, integrated approaches in restoring normalcy.

The Unforeseen Onset and a Cycle of Intensifying Pain

Hardi’s ordeal began on February 8, 2022, the day after her mother’s birthday. Despite her parents’ initial dismissal of her abdominal and back pain as a result of consuming outside food, her condition rapidly deteriorated. By morning, she was bent over in pain, unable to stand, prompting an urgent visit to a local hospital. Doctors administered painkillers, but when these proved ineffective, a CT scan was ordered. The scan revealed pancreatitis, a diagnosis that left her parents bewildered, as it was described as a condition rarely seen in children by the consulting physician.

This first episode led to a 5-day hospitalization, during which Hardi was kept on intravenous drips without food or water. Lab findings were alarming: Lipase at 2005.58 U/L, Amylase at 687.12 U/L, and a high CRP of 14.66. She was then in fifth grade, and though her school was online due to COVID-19, the experience was profoundly unsettling.

The attacks, however, proved to be recurrent. Six months later, in September 2021, a second severe attack struck. This time, her Lipase surged to 3504 U/L, and she was admitted to ICU for two days, then a private room, spending a total of 9 days in a hospital in Ahmedabad. Doctors explored possibilities like allergies and genetic causes, even conducting an MRCP (which showed edematous pancreatic parenchyma) and various allergy tests, but all results remained normal, offering no definitive explanation for the recurrences.

Over the next year, Hardi experienced a relentless pattern of recurrence, with attacks striking every two to two-and-a-half months. Each episode necessitated hospitalization, often with Lipase levels soaring to over 19000 U/L. Her parents’ frustration mounted as conventional medications like Creon offered no lasting relief. The mystery surrounding the cause of her illness, despite consuming only “khichdi” and oats, became a significant point of stress for the family and even the school. Hardi’s school, initially understanding, eventually discontinued her physical attendance and initiated prayers for her recovery in assemblies for a year. The financial burden of these repeated emergency hospitalizations reached an estimated ₹3 lakh.

The Decisive Pivot: A Trusting Turn to Ayurveda

Confronted with a relentless cycle of pain and hospitalization, and with conventional medicine offering no preventive solutions, Urvashi’s family desperately sought alternatives. A call from her elder brother brought a critical referral: a doctor in their village whose child had successfully treated similar pancreatitis at Padaav. This personal testimony, coupled with positive online reviews, prompted Urvashi to immediately contact Padaav. The center promptly provided contact details of other former patients, whose positive accounts further solidified her trust.

Hardi was admitted to Padaav on May 3, 2022. Her very first consultation with Vaidya Balendu Prakash proved pivotal. Urvashi recalls him immediately addressing her visible stress, assuring her, “टेंशन क्यों लेती है इतना कि इतना फेस पे क्यों इतना टेंशन है तेरी लड़की इधर आई है परफेक्ट जगह पे आई है बहुत जल्दी आ गई है तू तो मुझे ढूंढने में तो कहीं देर लग जाती तू तो एक साल में आ गई है एकदम नॉर्मल हो जा टेंशन फ्री हो जा तेरी लड़की ठीक हो जाएगी” (Why are you so stressed? Your daughter has come to the perfect place, very quickly. You took so long to find me. Just relax, your daughter will be fine).

Critically, a minor attack occurred that very night at Padaav. The staff immediately provided a specific Ayurvedic powder, which Urvashi, in astonishment, calls a “magic powder” because Hardi’s pain subsided within five minutes, a stark contrast to the two days it typically took in other hospitals. This immediate, tangible relief cemented Urvashi’s faith in Padaav’s methodology.

Padaav’s Protocol: A Systemic Approach to Healing and Restoration

Padaav’s protocol centered on a comprehensive re-education in lifestyle and diet. A significant relief for Hardi, who was a “foodie,” was the inclusion of a varied diet. While conventional doctors had restricted her to only khichdi and oats, Padaav’s kitchen offered diverse meals, including previously forbidden items like samosas, cutlets, and even paneer daily. This broad yet controlled diet, coupled with the staff’s accommodating approach to Hardi’s preferences, fostered enthusiasm and compliance.

The program also included practical dietary tips for long-term use, such as soaking fruits for two hours before consumption. The supportive environment at Padaav, with other patients and their families, provided mutual encouragement and reduced feelings of isolation.

Arresting Progression: A Sustainable Outcome and Reclaimed Childhood

Hardi’s dedication to this new lifestyle and treatment yielded remarkable results. For the first six months post-treatment, she experienced no attacks. A minor flare-up occurred once thereafter, but it was promptly managed with Vaidya Shikha Prakash’s guidance using simple measures like lemon water and specific medication, without the need for hospitalization. For over a year, Hardi has been free from any attacks. Her weight, which was 22.7 kg (underweight) at the time of admission, gradually increased to 23 kg, then 24 kg by September 2022, and currently stands at 34.65 kg.

Initially, Hardi’s activities were restricted due to fear of recurrence. However, upon consultation with Vaidya Shikha Prakash, a gradual reintroduction of physical activity began. Hardi started with drawing, then swinging, and short walks. Now, she actively plays and runs with other children at school, albeit with her parents’ gentle encouragement to take it easy. Urvashi herself made significant lifestyle changes, including giving up tea, based on Vaidya Prakash’s advice. She now consults Padaav for any health issues, confirming their status as her primary healthcare provider.

Hardi’s case highlights several critical elements in the successful management of recurrent acute pancreatitis:

• Integrated, Patient-Centric Care: Padaav’s methodology provides a structured approach combining personalized Ayurvedic medication, precise dietary regulation, and lifestyle modification, extending beyond mere symptom management to foster holistic well-being.
• Early Intervention: Urvashi notes the benefit of bringing Hardi to Padaav relatively early in her illness, which she believes contributed to the swift positive outcome.
• Psychological Reassurance: The profound impact of the initial consultation and the immediate relief from pain fundamentally shifted the family’s perspective from despair to hope.
• Lifestyle Transformation: The emphasis on disciplined eating, balanced nutrition, and appropriate physical activity was instrumental in breaking the cycle of recurrence.
• A Complementary Solution: Hardi’s narrative highlights the potential for alternative medical systems to provide effective, long-term solutions when conventional approaches face limitations in addressing chronic, recurrent conditions, especially in pediatric cases where traditional knowledge may be limited.

Today, Hardi Nayak is a thriving, vibrant child, her health stabilized and her childhood reclaimed. Her story has become a beacon of hope for other families grappling with similar diagnoses. Urvashi confidently directs them to Padaav, emphasizing the comprehensive support and lasting results they received, stating, “बच्चा ठीक हो जाए इससे ज्यादा ही क्या होता तो” (What more could one ask for than for the child to get well?).