Class X student recovering from shattering effects of mental shock, to sit for board exams, but poor parents need aid to continue their boy's treatment
Class X student recovering from shattering effects of mental shock, to sit for board exams, but poor parents need aid to continue their boy's treatment
Au00a0prank played on Arun Kumar by his friends made the Std X student lose his mental balance two years ago. He is yet to recover fully, but is still preparing for his board exams.
Being poor, his parents are unable to bear the cost of his treatment any more and areu00a0 seeking financial help from philanthropists.
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The boy returned home and slept, as he was not well. But later in the evening he learnt the examination had been held as scheduled and that he had missed it.
He was so shocked by what had happened that his mind started giving away under the strain and he started behaving abnormally as the days passed.
Little money left
"I am trying hard provide treatment to my son. But it's difficult to treat him as our financial condition is very bad," says Arun's father Varadaraj.
"Every time I bring him to Bangalore for treatment at NIMHANS, I have to spend a few thousand rupees, which is very difficult for me. He has been treated at NIMHANS from the beginning."
Mother Hanumamma is au00a0 very worried woman, though she says there has been improvement in the boy's condition. "He has been treated for the past two years at NIMHANS and is slowly improving," says the mother.
"Earlier he used to talk a lot of irrelevant stuff and used to get severe headaches. But now all that has reduced."
Fear factor
What sheu00a0 fears is a break in her son's treatment. "It's becoming very difficult for us to spend for his treatment," she says.
"Doctors at NIMHANS have said that Arun has to undergo treatment for two more years. Only then can they come to a conclusion whether he can recover completely or not."
Varadaraj says though his son had lost a year after the traumatic incident happened in September 2007, and had cleared his Std IX only the next year, he was not forcing him to study for the Std X exams.
"Arun is preparing for the board exams, though he is not completely recovered. But we don't want to put pressure on him," says the father.
"Even if he doesn't study I am not bothered, but I want him to recover as soon as possible," he adds.
Small mercies
Arun Kumar's uncle S M Chandrashekar is helping theu00a0 family by providing tablets the boy requires.
"They (Kumar's parents) have to spend a couple of thousand rupees every time they come to Bangalore for his treatment," says Chandrashekar.
"His father is a farmer and can not afford it every time," he adds. According to Chandrashekar, the teachers at Arun's school have also been supportive.
"They have told his parents that instead of the child sitting at home, let him come to school and sit in class and learn whatever possible," says Chandrashekar. "Even his friends who played the prank are helping Arun."
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