It has taken nine years, but 30-year-old Santu can now sit up and walk again.
Throughout that time Santu has been coming to Tala Park Clinic with his father, traveling from Digha, a town approximately 190 kilometers from Kolkata.
Santu hails from an impoverished area where most residents are migrant workers. After completing their formal education, many leave their villages to seek employment elsewhere. Santu’s father is a farmer working on leased land, earning a meager infrequent income. His mother is a housewife. Santu became the family’s key breadwinner when he moved to another state for work as a contractual labour, as his father income was volatile.
Tragedy struck when Santu suffered a head injury at work, rendering him unconscious. His friends and co-workers took care of him, but he could no longer work and was sent back to Kolkata.
“He stayed almost bedridden for the next few months. The government hospital was very far, and it was difficult for us to take him there, so we took him to a local doctor,” his father explained.
The local doctor insisted they visit a government hospital in Kolkata. “So I did,” his father continued. “But the medicines they gave us were too expensive, and many of them were unavailable. The doctor at the government hospital referred my son to Calcutta Rescue.”
“Santu had suffered a brain haemorrhage. But we also discovered that he had Wilson’s Disease,” says Dr. Alakananda Ghosh, the head of medical at Calcutta Rescue.
Wilson’s Disease is a genetic disorder in which copper isn’t eliminated properly, accumulating in organs. Symptoms include swelling, fatigue, abdominal pain, and uncontrolled or poorly coordinated movements. While symptoms typically appear in childhood, they can manifest much later in some cases.
Since then, Santu has been diligently taking his medicines and has responded well to treatment. “My boy could not sit or walk at one time, but now he can sit, and walk by himself. He still has some tremors in his limbs, but the doctor has assured us that he will improve in a few more years,” his father said with hope, “I will go as far as I can for my son’s health. I will never give up.”
Santu’s journey from a bedridden state to regaining his mobility is a testament to his and his family’s resilience and the dedicated care provided by Calcutta Rescue. His story is one of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.
