The origin

Jaundice. It is estimated that approximately 50% of newborn babies develop this odd looking discoloration. (Where Rh incompatibility occurs, the mother’s immune system attacks the child’s blood cells, destroying their ability to process bilirubin, a by-product of the breakdown of red blood cells. The problem causes liver overload and jaundice).

Severe jaundice is treated with phototherapy - the use of strong light to treat hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn. The blue light breaks down the bilirubin so that the baby’s liver can pass it. Jaundice, if left untreated, can cause brain damage. And in turn, brain damage can cause cerebral palsy.

newborn infant undergoing (white-light) phototherapy to treat neonatal jaundice

It so happened that Shantanu was among those 50% babies who are born with jaundice - which was left undetected for about a week. When it was finally detected by his mother (lord knows what the doctors were doing till then), the disease had become pretty severe and phototherapy had to be applied. The doctors forecasted that it could already be too late for phototherapy to completely cure Shantanu's jaundice, and the damage may have been done, which could be any kind of disablity including - cerebral palsy\trouble in reading, writing, and basic math\motor function\mental retardation\ hearing impairment\ speech impairments\ and eye muscle disorders. In this case it later turned out to be about 80% physical disablity - or quadriplegic cp. But, incredibly, his IQ remained normal. Miracles, happen.