Though Kerala is embroiled in controversies ranging from gold smuggling to corruption to massive deforestation, a rare gesture shown by Malayalees during the last one week show that goodness have not completely eluded the State.
Rafeeque and Mariyumma, parents of 18-month-old Mohammed of Maattool village in Kannur would vouch for the kindness and affection of people in Kerala. Mohammed, suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare and fatal genetic disease, was in need of a medicine costing `18 crore, which his parents could not manage on their own.
The boy, facing uncertainty, got a new lease of life by Monday morning as it was known that people who read about the ordeal of his parents through newspapers and watched his innocent face on TV screens contributed to the Save Mohammed Fund. Donations poured in from everywhere and by Monday the bank officials informed the parents that the total amount that have been credited to the account crossed `18 crore which made the parents thank ‘all good persons who chipped in with their kindness’.
The president of the local panchayath, the MLA and the district panchayath president led the fund collection drive. Mohammed can breath easy as he could be administered the medicine Zolgensma, described as the costliest medicine in the world. A dose of this medicine costs `18 crore.
Rafeeque said this was a rare disease which affect one in every 10,000 persons and could lead to paralysis, muscle weakness and progressive lose of movement. The entire population in Mattool village were in a happy mood on Monday as the God Almighty has heard their prayers for the speedy recovery of Mohammed.
“I don’t have words to express our gratitude to the persons who literally suffocated us with their kindness and love. All I could say is Alhamdulilla (Praise be to God)”, said Rafeeque.