By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News
The Bhatt family of River Place was honored as the showcase family at a Dell Children’s Gala recently.
“They honored us by showcasing our family,” Kunjan Bhatt said.
The Bhatt family , which has fully recovered from an accident that hospitalized Roopal,
Sapna, now 7, and Devan, now 4, last summer, was honored as the showcase family at the Dell Children’s Gala recently benefiting Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Kunjan says their lives will never be the same.
This year’s gala was Jan. 25 and the theme was Storybook, in honor of all the stories and lives that Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas has been a part of and will continue to be. The hospital serves more than 142,000 sick and injured children each year from 46-counties.
The Bhatt family was a part of the evening and among 1,000 attendees as their story was shared. It is a story that changed their lives.
On June 9, 2013, River Place resident Roopal Bhatt was taking a walk with their daughter, Sapna, and son, Devan, near the entrance of River Place when an SUV apparently took the corner too fast with the wet conditions, flipped on its side, jumped the curb and hit them.
All three were badly injured. Roopal was taken by ambulance to Round Rock Medical Center with numerous broken bones. Devan suffered a fractured pelvis and leg. Sapna was hurt the worst, suffering a fractured skull, leg and arm. At the hospital, she began hemorrhaging and was put on life support.
“We almost lost her,” Kunjan said.
Both Sapna and Devan were treated at Dell Children’s.
It’s been nearly nine months since the accident that struck the Bhatt family. All three family members underwent surgery. Devan had to wear a cast on both feet for 12 weeks. Roopal was wheelchair bound temporarily and underwent rehab.
But, fortunately, to look at the Bhatt family today, one will see them happy and healthy.
“Everyone has made a full recovery,” Kunjan said. “Through the support of the neighborhood and friends and family and God’s grace, we are back to normal.”
Both children returned to school last August – Sapna, a second grader at River Place Elementary, and Devan, in pre-K at Primrose. Roopal, a dermatologist at Four Points Dermatology, returned to work and even recently opened her second dermatology office in the Mueller Development in East Austin. Roopal was also recently nominated as a “Texas Rising Star” by Texas Monthly for the second year in a row for her dermatology work.
Kunjan said that while the family is back to normal, the experience has forever changed them.
“We take nothing for granted and enjoy every lasting moment with everyone,” he said. “I always thought I was someone who had perspective on life and was a patient and thoughtful person, but this has made me more so.”
Working as a cardiologist, Kunjan said the experience has affected his everyday dealings with people.
“Just when you think you have it bad, other people have it worse,” he said. “When you have it great, don’t take it for granted.”