UAE expats reach out to Kerala mystery disease boys

A group of Indian expatriates from the Payyoli Panchayat in Kozhikkodu, Kerala, are engaged in a marathon charity drive to help an Indian family with two of its young members suffering from an unidentified disease that has left them in a state of paralysis.

Medical experts and doctors haven’t been able to diagnose the ailment, and the expatriate community in the UAE is trying its best to help the ordinary family of an auto-rikshaw driver, who has been struggling to meet the medical expenses of two of his three young sons suffering from the unidentified disease.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Faisal Melady, President of Peruma (Payyoli Expatraite Residents United Malayali Association) said community members have taken the responsibility to  help the distressed poor family living in their village.

“We all are sad about the plight of the Ashokan family who has been living with the meager income the father earns working as an auto driver. His first son, Arun, 23, started showing symptoms of the unknown disease after attaining the age of 9, and he needed help to move. He cannot move his limbs or even the head and always need support to go to the toilet or to eat food. This is a deadly unknown disease that affects one in 10 million people,” he said.

“His second son, Athul PP, 18, had been a brilliant student, scoring more than 80 per cent marks in his Secondary School and Plus One Examinations. The second son was also taking care of his sick elder brother, but he too started showing symptoms of the strange disease and is now suffering from an advanced form of the same disease,” Faisal said, adding that the family is now worried about their third son, who is also reaching the same age when his two brothers started showing symptoms of the disease.

Within two years of the mystery disease manifesting itself, the elder boy could not stand on his own, speak or keep his shoulders or head straight. Doctors suspect it to be a case of White Matter Disease for which there is no treatment. Copies of a document detailing the family’s problems, and appeals from the village Panchayats are also going around helping the Ashokan family. Many Keralites in the UAE hail from Calicut, and the special campaign is by people from the three villages, viz. Payyoli, Vadakara and Thorayoor in Calicut.

“Ashokan KM, the head of the family, used to make a living by driving an auto-rikshaw. But due to the severe illness of his two young sons, his presence is always needed to take care of them along with his wife, Rama.

The couple has been trying for the last eight years and the boys have been treated in various hospitals, the Calicut Medical College, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, the Vellore Neurology Christian Medical College and the Shree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology Thiruvananthapuram. A video presentation of the sick youngsters is going around on YouTube and through the digital media, showing the pathetic situation,” said Faisal.

Sometimes the brothers cry very loudly and community members of Payyoli Village have formed several rehabilitation and support committees for the two sick brothers. Now, their expatriate brethren in the UAE are keen to support the family by ensuring a regular source of income to continue their treatment and help the boys’ parents. A special Arun-Athul Treatment Support Committee has the endorsement of the Payyoli Village Panchayat Presnident, KT Sindhu, and various medical reports about the youth’s medical condition. 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.