By Manoj More
03 May 2010
"Owais is fond of books. He runs around the house with books, scribbles a few words on paper and if anybody tries to touch, he will angrily throw the book outside our hut," says mother Kausar Khan (22).
The Khan family lives in Kondhwa. Owais had, in December 2007, fallen on his head after he accidentally slipped from the hands of a relative who had tossed him in the air playfully. He had suffered an injury on the back of his head, after which Kausar ran from one doctor to another and one hospital to another. She couldn't get any treatment for her son. Compounding her plight was that her husband allegedly refused to help her. "My husband had told me that I should get him operated as I had caused the injury." An angry Kausar walked out of her husband's home and has since been staying with her mother who works as a maid. For over a month after, Owais remained without any treatment and his condition began deteriorating. In February 2008, after Newsline highlighted the plight of Owais, as many as 38 citizens had come forward with monetary help. Doctors attached to the PCMC–run Yeshwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital in Pimpri too came forth to perform the operation free of cost. "It's because of the kind–hearted souls that he is living today," Kausar says.
YCMH medical superintendent Dr Anand Jagdale said, "Since Owais had remained without treatment for over a month, it was a tough proposition. Had there been a delay of even a day or two more, it would have been dangerous to his life."
He said Owais had been subjected to regular medical check–ups since then. "Even now, the hospital provides him free medical check–ups."
Kausar says Owais is like any other child who troubles everyone in the house with his pranks. "But on the back of my mind, the fear is always there. Every time he trips and falls, it sends a chill down my spine. I keep looking at his head to ensure that he has not suffered another injury."
And on the future plans, she says, "I will send him to Azam Campus, which is known for its high education standards."
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