Author: Ram Parmar and Priyanka Borjpujari
Publication: Mumbai Mirror
Date: May 15, 2009
URL: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=2&contentid=200904252009042502282844524b8b67
Shravan Gupta overcomes severe paralysis in
the arms to go to school; hopes to become a motor mechanic some day, once
he learns to stand without support
Seven-year-old Shravan Gupta's parents are
over the moon at the 71 per cent he scored in his Std I exams. That's because,
just two years ago, his parents would not have dared dream that Shravan would
even be able to move his arms, let alone attend school.
Born with a severe neuro disease that left
him paralysed in his arms and legs, this son of a peanut vendor didn't even
move out of the house until he was five years old. While Shravan's mother
Shashikala took care of his everyday needs, his father Jeevan would pray for
a miracle. And in 2007, the miracles began to happen.
In December that year, a social worker suggested
the name of Dr Shashikant Shah, an Ayurvedic doctor practising in Viramgam,
near Ahmedabad, who is an expert in curing paralytic cases. Shah's only condition
was that Shravan make fortnightly visits to the clinic and also stay there
for two days. That meant Rs 1,500 per trip, even though the doctor agreed
to charge a subsidised fee for physiotherapy. When a dejected Jeevan wondered
where he would get the money from, a second miracle occurred. Donors from
around the city opened their purses on hearing of Shravan's plight.
A year-and-a-half later, Shravan can move
both his hands freely and can even button his shirt, brush his teeth, comb
his hair and hold a pencil, says his proud mother Shashikala.
Last year, during the treatment, Shravan had
expressed a desire to study. After an initial tussle, Shravan was admitted
in Std I of the Zilla Parishad Marathi School in Palghar. His mother helped
him catch up with his studies. "We took up the challenge though we are
from the Hindi medium," Jeevan said. Two teachers Pragya Patil and Nilima
Sankhe took special care of Shravan, by taking extra classes for free, at
his home.
Shravan now wants to become a motor mechanic,
once he learns to stand without support. And considering all the miracles
that have happened to the little boy, we're sure one more won't be such a
surprise.
