A Ray Of Hope In A Blighted Young Life

Raju Singh is 13 years of age. A resident of Village Sarai, Gurgaon District, Haryana, Raju led a normal life till a few year ago, when he had a brush with death, which changed his life forever.

It was April 2002. For Raju life was all about going to school, getting back, throwing the school bag at home and rushing out to the local park to play with friends. On the fateful day, he was so busy playing with the other kids that he did not notice the naked electrical wires, which had been carelessly left on the ground by electricians who had taken a break from their work without taking any care to cover the wires. Raju tripped on the live wires, stumbled and fell on the transformer. His neck, shoulders and chest got severely burnt and so did the leg that had tripped.

His panic-stricken friends informed Raju’s mother, Geeta Singh, who works in a nearby Export House, immediately. She rushed to the park, where Raju was lying unconscious. In a state of shock, she ran helter-skelter looking for help. Some neighbours helped her to take him to the nearby Government Hospital. There Raju’s treatment for burns continued for three months. His ears, mouth and eyebrows were badly burnt, but Raju could see.

Raju was discharged from the hospital but he was far from normal. Though he was operated upon, some of the nerves in his neck were totally burnt, making neck movement difficult. He rejoined school, but the teacher sent him back home saying that he was not fit enough to attend classes. Since last August Raju has not been able to attend school. He has had to stay at home and kill time watching others play. Raju himself could not be a part of the rough and tumble, as his legs did not have the strength to endure such vigorous exercise. He became withdrawn and miserable.

In March the next year, his family started seeing other changes in Raju. He would stumble and slip very often while walking. At times, his mother scolded him for being careless.

But it was his neighbour who noticed a white spot in his eye and suggested that his eyes be checked. Neighbours suggested that Raju be taken to Venu’s Dhankot Satellite Hospital in Gugaon District, Haryana. At Dhankot the doctors carefully examined Raju’s eyes and referred him to Venu’s Base Hospital in Delhi.

At the Base Hospital Raju was diagnosed with traumatic cataract. In most cases of electrocution the eyes do get affected and the lens becomes opaque. This can happen instantly in some cases and gradually in others. When Raju came to the hospital, he did not even have the strength to walk and he was carried in. After complete evaluation Dr. Gaurav Kakkar, Venu’s Paediatric Ophthalmologist, decided that both his eyes had to be operated for traumatic cataract. According to the anaesthetist, the problem with Raju was that due to contraction of the skin around his neck, administration of general anaesthesia would be difficult.

Therefore, it was decided that the operation would be done under local anaesthesia, a very unusual procedure in children. Thanks to the wonderful rapport between Dr. Gaurav and Raju, the child confidently agreed to this. Even after both his eyes were operated upon he bravely claimed, “This pain is nothing, I am fine!” Within two days he had started walking around the ward on his own. Gita could not believe the change she saw in her son. He was bright and cheerful with his confidence fully restored. She cannot thank Venu enough for having given a new lease of life to Raju, and that too completely free of cost. Gita is all praise for Dr. Gaurav Kakkar and says, “ It was because of his skill and patience that Raju can see today. I will always be grateful to him.”

Dr. Kakkar, too, is very happy that Raju will not have to languish in darkness because of his traumatic electrocution.