When Emirates 24|7 first reported on Saurav Kumar’s case, it was a story that was rooted in bravery of an 8-year old battling a life-threatening brain tumour.
Of how, after going through four surgeries at Al Rashid Hospital, bearing immense pain and sickness, the Indian High School student was still not sure he would make it back to his classroom.
Saurav’s dad, speaking to this website, rendered a heart-breaking tale of a father’s desperate drive to save his son.
The bottom-line was: one more major surgery was required and Saurav’s father, Sunil Kumar, did not have the finances to see it through.
Here was a boy and family in need.
The UAE responded.
After a plethora of responses on Emirates 24|7, the story was picked up by UAE’s Radio Spice 105.4.
The RJ Kritika who does the station’s breakfast show and has a passion for social causes read, was so moved that she decided to take up the cause on air.
In a heart-rending conversation with Kritika on Spice Saurav’s dad, in between tears, explained the situation.
Click here to read Saurav’s story
Within less than 24 hours of that live radio call, Dh1,20,000 was raised for Saurav.
The call for help had spread widely within the community now and speaking to Emirates 24|7, Rajeev Pillai, President of the Al Khail Gate Malayalis Association (AKGMA), said: “After reading the Emirates 24|7 story about Saurav, many of our members using their Facebook groups began raising money.
“The family already got about Dh80,000 from various contributions.”
The operation, as Saurav’s father told Radio Spice, was successful and the doctors are confident that the boy will regain his full faculties.
To understand what it means to the boy and the father, click on the link below.
Saurav’s dad recounts the amazing experience of his son being saved to Radio Spice.