Ailing boy gets succour from Muslims

Lucknow, Nov 2 (UNI) Despite all hardship, life has to go on. It was a black day for three-year-old Rishu, the only son of his parents and a resident of Barabanki district, when his father stepped back hearing the goodly amount needed for his heart treatment.

The irresponsible father threw his wife Sangeeta and the ailing son out of his life and home and married another woman.

Some people of the Muslim community, however, came ahead for their help. They not referred Rishu to a heart specialist at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (SGPGI) here for treatment, but also prayed for his recovery.

Talking to UNI, Dr Nirmal Gupta, a heart specialist, who is looking after Rishu's case, today said the boy had a congential heart defect and in the term of medical science, the disease was known as 'Tetralogy of Fallots.' The operation costs around Rs 70,000 to Rs 2 lakh and the disease can only be suppressed with timely operation, he said.

The operation was scheduled for tomorrow, but due to change in weather and present condition of the boy, it had been postponed for a week, he added.

Narrating her story, Sangeeta -- the mother of the ailing boy-said ''Rishu is reeling under the problem since his birth. It came as a great shock for me, when my own husband left me in bad time. But despite all the hardships, life has to go on...'' The Almighty sent some good people in my life, who not only collected funds for the treatment of my son, but also arranged a shelter for me at a Mosque.'' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UP Chief Minister Mayawati provided a monetary assitance of Rs 50,000 and Rs 35,000 respectively for Rishu's treatment.

UNI JAS RP RN1544