Raju’s Story

I first met Raju when he was brought to me by his parents for a second opinion on their child’s medical condition. I was surprised to hear that he was four years old as he appeared barely two. He clung to his mother’s hips gasping and wheezing with each breath. He was diagnosed with “Asthma” when he was about 10 months old and inspire of multiple hospitalizations at the public hospitals, and doctor’s visits Raju continued to get worse. By then the parents had sold their small farm to cover the medical expenses and was left with just the small hut they lived in. Raju’s father had resorted to fishing in the local streams and rivers to make some money and feed his family.

A brief examination of Raju’s lungs revealed his problem to be localized to one area in his right lung. I suspected he might have aspirated a foreign body into his lungs as is common during the toddler years. I wrote a brief note explaining my suspicions and advised the family that Raju be taken back to the Medical College and my letter be given to the examining physician.
Three years later when I returned to the village Raju and his parents returned to see me. This time Raju looked his age, healthy and happy, smiling shyly standing beside his mother. They had brought me a small box of candy to express their gratitude. Raju indeed had a small wooden bead lodged in his lung. Once this was removed he was cured!
Raju related images here.