Shifting between life and death: the story of Botond

A young Hungarian traveller, Botond spent over twenty hours in an Indian hospital with a double spine fracture and a ruptured skull. Even his bed was pushed aside on a corridor as he was not in the condition to be operated on. The story of Botond is something you only see in the movies and although the happy ending has not yet come, the young man is fighting with all his will to get his life back.

Botond studied political science-economics-philosophy at a university in the Netherlands, which allows students to spend their final semester in another country as part of an exchange programme. Botond and his friend decided to explore India in their sabbatical year, Blikk reports.

“We wanted him to come home, but he chose India instead,” said Botond’s mother, Bogata Holl. “On the last day of his stay, we received a message from him saying that he was coming home, and his flight would arrive in the evening.”

Being helpless in Mumbai

Botond’s father went to pick him up from the airport, but Botond did not arrive. The parents proceeded to call the Hungarian consulate in Mumbai. They have been grateful to the embassy staff ever since, as they were able to track down Botond very quickly in the large metropolitan city. It turned out that the young man was in a public hospital with life-threatening injuries, having broken his spine in an accident.

Botond’ younger brothers greet him. Source: Facebook/Bogáta Holl

The parents also learned that the doctors at this hospital were clueless about what to do, so Botond had to be transferred to a private hospital where he could undergo the proper operation. But there they charged for everything, even for the use of a rubber glove or a catheter tube. Botond had to be operated twice, each operation cost 6 million forints (15,600 EUR) alone.

“It was unbelievable to see how many people helped with money or in other ways,” said Bogata, whose colleagues also organised a fundraiser. Moreover, she was also grateful to her brother and his girlfriend, who – while they were in India – did everything they could to raise as much money as possible at home.

After the surgeries, Botond had to endure unbearable pain, followed by a similarly excruciating rehabilitation process. However, he was determined not to succumb to fate,  and he gradually regained functionality in his right leg. Four months later, Boti was discharged and is currently recovering at the National Rehabilitation Institute in Budapest.

Robotic therapy for faster rehabilitation

Botond will undergo robotic therapy and will be trained to walk with the aid of a device that can reduce about 30 kilograms off his body weight. Though mobility has been restored to one leg, the other leg remains paralysed, with very weak muscles that render it unusable for the time being. While several robotic devices might be beneficial to Boti, only a fraction of them are typically accessible in the in-patient care facilities within this country. Unfortunately, soon he will have to depart from the rehabilitation institute which will limit his therapeutic options in the context of local rehabilitation.

He will solely have access to this multimillion forints-worth equipment in private care, which the family cannot afford. Up until Botond’s return home, a total of 32 million forints (84,000 EUR) were spent on treatment. Time is running out as doctors predict they have a two-year window to achieve maximum mobility restoration for Boti. After which, it will become increasingly challenging to improve his condition. Nevertheless, the determined young man remains optimistic, intending to return to school and graduate in September.

The robotic therapy device, which helps Botond to walk again. Source: Facebook/Bogáta Holl

The extensive therapy costing 2.5 million forints

Once the young man leaves the rehabilitation centre, the family must self-fund a 100-hour, six-week programme of robotic therapy, which costs 2.5 million forints, or 6,500 EUR. In addition, they are required to make adjustments to their living space to ensure accessibility and obtain an active wheelchair. If you wish to help, please find the banking information of the family hereunder.

OTP Bank 11773188-05831487– Holl Bogáta

IBAN: HU29 1177 3188 0583 1487 0000 0000

BIC/SWIFT: OTPVHUHB