Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Aug 12: This is the heart-rending story of Roshan D'Souza, who until just two years ago, was like any other young man with dreams of a decent career, until an accident turned his life around completely.

Roshan D'Souza, all of just 26 years, is the son of John D'Souza and Leena D'Souza, hailing from Kokkada village in Dharmasthala. He met with a bike accident on August 27, 2013 near Nelliyadi and was admitted to Father Muller Medical College Hospital where he got operated. He was discharged on September 25, 2013.

The impact of the accident was such that Roshan sustained injuries on his spinal cord resulting in weakening of B/L upper and lower limbs. With this major injury, Roshan became paralysed and bedridden.

Prior to the accident, Roshan was working in Kuwait in a bakery and he had come to India to spend sometime with his family on vacation when the fateful accident took place. Roshan's mother ties beedi at home and father does coolie work for a living. Roshan's family is very poor and he was the main breadwinner for his family. His accident left the family shattered. Roshan has a younger brother who is working in a hotel near PVS junction, but his earnings are hardly sufficient to sustain the family and meet Roshan's medical expenses.

After Roshan was discharged from the hospital, his parents started taking him to the physiotherapy centre at Madanthyar. Unable to bear the travelling expenses, his parents had to stay in physiotherapy centre itself. The centre belongs to nuns and the cost of treatment was less, and Roshan's parents were allowed to stay there during the treatment, which used to go on for a month followed by a break and then back again.

Their misery increased when Roshan had to go for a plastic surgery, as he developed bedsores lying in one position for a prolonged period.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Leena D'Souza, mother of Roshan said, "The first major accident which Roshan was involved in was the hardest thing for us to digest. It was a most shocking incident, something we never thought would happen and which totally changed our lives. After the accident, Roshan was completely paralysed with his broken spinal cord. We are very poor. We were not able to afford a one time meal when Roshan was admitted to the hospital. We could not afford to travel to and fro the hospital everyday, so stayed in the hospital itself for for a month at least. Just the medicines would cost up to Rs 3,000 every day. I had to stop tying beedis as I needed to sit next to my son in the hospital and take care of him fulltime.

"After he got discharged from the hospital, we took him to physiotherapy centre at Madanthyar. We had to travel from our house to the physiotherapy centre in a taxi, and travelling expenses were too much to afford. A single trip would cost us at least Rs 3,600 to Rs 4,000. So we stayed in the physiotherapy centre itself. The hospital and the physiotherapy centre's bills and medical expenses have already come upto Rs 16 to Rs 17 lacs. We had to beg with our neighbours, family, friends and also borrowed some loan from the bank. Roshan's savings were used for operation expenses," Leena said, her eyes moist.

Regarding the plastic surgery done on Roshan, she said, "The accident itself shattered our family and then as Roshan remained bedridden for over two years, he developed bedsores. He was admitted again on June 30 this year for plastic surgery at Father Muller Medical College Hospital. The hospital bill for one month with treatment cost has come up to approximately Rs 5 lacs. Ever since the plastic surgery, he has not been able to sleep properly, he is lying down on his stomach from one month. I do not know how to pay such a large amount."

The family is desperately in need of financial support and prayers. Those who wish to help may send their contributions to:

Roshan D'Souza
S/o John D'Souza 
Moodbail House,
Kokrady village, Puttur taluk

Account No: 01682200029023
IFSC No: SYNB0000168
Syndicate Bank
Kokkada Jodumarga
Beltangady taluk

Contact Valerian Crasta for more details: 9945324021