You could say that Richmond’s Vedanshi Vala won a recent national history award by “accident.”
No, it wasn’t a chance encounter of the frivolous kind that earned the soon-to-be Grade 10 McRoberts student a spot among winners, who submitted videos on Canadian history to the Young Citizens program.
Instead, it was a car accident in late 2015 that inspired her to delve deeper into researching Dr. Wilder Penfield, a Canadian pioneer in the treatment of brain surgery.
“Following the accident, I really found out how doctors have a great impact on their patients’ lives,” Vedanshi told the News.
A utility van slammed onto the rear of the vehicle Vedanshi was riding in last October, leaving her with whiplash and concussion. Her injuries hampered her ability to attend classes, and she had to continue studies at home.
“Basically, I was seeing a lot of doctors and physiotherapists afterwards and I realized how a doctor can really make or break a patient,” she said, adding she saw parallels from her experience in Penfield’s life and work as he sought to treat epilepsy - a condition his sister died of – with a process referred to as ESB (electrical stimulation of the brain).
The procedure involves keeping the patient awake, but under local anesthesia, to help the surgeon pin-point the part of the brain that was causing seizures.
“This is still being used by doctors today to treat epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and other diseases like that,” Vedanshi said.
This is not the first time Vedanshi has done research on Penfield. Back in Grade 6 at McNeely elementary, he was her subject for a regional heritage fair entry where she won an award.
“So, this year, I used all the knowledge I had and took it further,” Vedanshi said, adding she thrust herself into the video she made for the contest, playing the roles of a TV news presenter, Penfield, his patient and the patient’s husband.
“I personally enjoy giving myself challenges. And I decided I needed one more, so I entered the competition,” she said.
“And I thought that my idea was pretty original where I played the different characters in the video. Plus, I enjoy acting.”
For being named among the winners in the video competition, Vedanshi will attend Canada National History Youth Forum in Ottawa this fall.
