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Message from Karthik Vasudeva and Ravi Kiran:
Puneeth is 4 years old. Both his parents are teachers at a school in Mangalore, Karnataka, Puneeth is special. This bubbly
young boy was born deaf. He was later diagnosed with cochlear nerve damage.
However, there is hope. Doctors at Jeslok Hospital in Mumbai have been treating kids with a similar disorder with a high
degree of success. During the course of an operation called Cochlear Implant surgery, a tiny chip-like-instrument would
be implanted into Puneeth's body. This surgery needs to be completed before Puneeth turns 5 to be effective. That is, the
surgery should be performed by May 2006.
Such procedures cost a lot of money. The chip costs Rupees 9 lakh (around USD 21000) and surgery costs about Rupees
1 lakh (around USD 2500). Puneeth's parents simply cannot afford this kind of money.
This website is an effort to raise money for this child and his future.
This is a plea for donors out there who wish to make a contribution towards this cause. Please treat this as a personal
request to come forward and help in any possible way. Every effort, small or big, will definitely make a difference.
If any of you have further questions/doubts/concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at the email address or phone number provided
below.
thanks and regards
Karthik
Phone: 304-685-1212
Email : karthikvasudeva@yahoo.com
AN APPEAL FROM PUNEET'S MOM
A mother’s heart throbs at
hearing her child’s prattle, “Amma” “Papa” But here is an unfortunate mother, crying out her
sorrowful story. We, Mangalagowri and my husband, Sri Divaspathi, the parents of Puneeth, are not
blessed with the divine tidings, that is, Puneeth’s babbling. He is born deaf, with a glimmer of hope at the
end of a long, unknown, deep tunnel. We stand before you, with folded arms, begging for the milk of human kindness.
Puneeth
is 4-year old now. We sensed some serious hearing impairment in him, though he looked normal when he was hardy 4-month old.
We tried to attract his attention making various sounds, only to sink deep and further deep in sorrow. It has been an ordeal
to watch him suffer mutely – he cannot express himself; we cannot pacify him. There is not end to our endeavours to
end his suffering.
Dr Jayashree
Bhat, Speech and Hearing Specialist, Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, confirmed his deafness. Dr.
Dattatreya at MV Shetty Speech and Hearing Centre, Mangalore, asked us to bring him to the
Centre daily for speech and hearing practice. After several sessions, finding no improvements, the doctor diagnosed Cochlear
Nerve damage in him and opined that chances were less to cure this born deafness. Finally we approached renowned Speech
and Hearing Specialist Dr. Madhuri Gore, Dr. S.R. Chandrashekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing, on the recommendation
of Dr. Shankar Mediker, Sneha Hospital, Bangalore, Dr. Gore prescribed Cochlear Implant as the only remedy
to Puneeth’s disability. Dr. Dattatreya is of the same opinion.
There is an example,
a hope for us. Cyrus, son of Mr. Norbert Miranda a teacher in St. Aloysius High School, Mangalore,
had been suffering from Cochlear Nerve damage. He underwent Cochlear Implant surgery at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai.
It was a resounding success and now he is catching up with other normal kids. Dr. Sandra D’Souza,
Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, who performed the operation, recommends the same to Puneeth too.
The tiny chip like
instrument to be implanted costs a whopping Rs. 9 lakh in India. The surgery itself costs Rs. One lakh. Even in our wildest
dreams we cannot visualize that amount. I’m a teacher in a Government Higher Primary School, Mangalore and my husband
teachers in Vidyadayinee High School, Surathkal. As we two cannot gather that amount even from the extended family
roots and banks do not lend money to such purposes we are presenting our humblest desire before you.
If only donors and
those blessed with riches extend their helping hand, our Puneeth can become another normal kid. Institutes can also donate.
There is another catch in the misery. The boy should be operated upon before the age of 5. Now he is 4. Hence, we will have
to get it done before May 2006. It is possible if only you lead us through the deafening darkness.
Your kindness may flow down to the following destinations:
IN INDIA:
Master Puneeth,
S/o. Divaspathi,
A/c. No. 27653,
Syndicate Bank, Surathkal Branch,
Surathkal – 575014.
Mangalore, Karnataka,
INDIA.
IN US
Karthik Vasudeva
Email : karthikvasudeva@yahoo.com
Phone : 304-685-1212 (Cell)
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