From Ventilator to Exam Hall: Kanishka Bist's 13-Day Fight to Write Class 12 Boards
In an extraordinary display of courage and determination, 17-year-old Kanishka Bist wrote her Class 12 board examination on Friday while still recovering from a critical medical emergency that left her on ventilator support for thirteen days. Wheeled into the examination hall on a stretcher and accompanied by medical staff, Kanishka's journey from intensive care to the classroom has inspired everyone who witnessed her resilience.
A Lifelong Battle with Muscular Dystrophy
Kanishka, a student at Sri Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Senior Secondary School in Sector 26, Chandigarh, has been living with muscular dystrophy since birth. This degenerative condition has always made daily tasks challenging, but the past few weeks presented her with the most severe test of her endurance yet.
Her father, Prem Singh Bist, a businessman from Zirakpur near Chandigarh, recounted the sudden onset of the medical crisis. "It began with what seemed like a routine illness. She started having a cough and cold on January 30, but her health deteriorated rapidly," he explained.
Thirteen Critical Days in the ICU
On February 2, Kanishka was admitted to a hospital in Panchkula. As complications escalated, she was referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, Chandigarh. Her condition worsened to the point where she required transfer to the intensive care unit and ventilator support to breathe.
"She was on a ventilator for thirteen days. For nearly ten of those days, she did not have proper consciousness," her father revealed. "Even after the ventilator was removed, she continued to face blood pressure issues and severe weakness."
The Decision to Write the Exam
While most people in her situation would focus entirely on recovery, Kanishka had another priority—her first board examination in physics. "On Thursday evening, she told us she wanted to give her board exam on Friday," Prem Singh Bist said. "We were stunned but deeply admired her determination. She was very clear that she did not want to miss this crucial exam."
The family immediately coordinated with school authorities and the examination center, a government school in Manimajra located approximately 10 kilometers away. Given her fragile health, the Central Board of Secondary Education granted her an additional hour to complete the paper. "During her Class 10 boards as well, we had secured an extra hour from CBSE due to her health issues," her father noted.
Writing Her Own Future
Despite the physical challenges, Kanishka bravely chose to write the exam herself without the assistance of a writer. "Since everything happened at the last moment, we could not obtain permission for a writer from CBSE," her father added.
With four more examinations ahead, Kanishka now balances her ongoing recovery with academic preparation. Her elder brother and family provide constant support, and medical professionals are optimistic about her progress. "Doctors are positive that she will improve further," Bist stated. "After witnessing her incredible strength, we believe she will overcome this too."
On Friday, as other students entered the examination hall with their admit cards, Kanishka arrived on a stretcher, still connected to an oxygen cylinder. In that quiet room, her answer sheet transcended being merely an academic exercise—it became a powerful testament to a young woman's refusal to let illness dictate her future.
