11-yr-old Sri Lankan refugee boy leaves hospital

Chennai: The 11-year-old Sri Lankan refugee boy Vijith Kumar, who underwent a reconstruction surgery at the Institute of Child Health and Children’s Hospital last week, got discharged on Monday. He has returned to his home in Sivakasi.

Despite the surgery having been a success, his parents—Dushyanthan, a taxi driver who became a coolie, and Kalaivani, a housewife - are unable to bear the pain of having to see their child semi paralyzed.

The boy was brought to the hospital over a week back with urethral stricture and severe urinary tract Infection. Having met with an accident (when he landed under a bus), he ended up injuring his pelvic bone, causing him to become semi paralyzed.

“I sold my car in the hope that I could use that money to save my son. Now, I work as a coolie. In 2015, we visited K. T. Rajendra Balaji, minister, ministry of information and broadcasting, and filed a petition. However, we have not yet received a response from the government,” said a distressed Dushyanthan.
We also tried to meet the Chief Minister twice at Poes Garden, but we were directed to the collector’s office. Three slips were given at the collector’s office but there has been no progress in our petition,” he added.

His mother was unable to control her tears while speaking to DC. “Even if it was a dreadful disease, I would have been able to pacify myself. Seeing my son in this state is intolerable. I have no relatives other than my brother who abandoned me. We don’t even have any money now,” she said.

“He has to live with morbidity and going to school may be difficult, as someone may need to support him. From the history, it seems like the tyre went over his pelvis,” said state coordinator of National Rural Health Mission, Dr S. Srinivasan.

Interested philanthropists can reach the family on 9715331792.