Azeem Malik, a senior doctor at Aligarh Medical College, said that children with this brain disorder die before they become adults. In Shayan’s case, he has miraculously survived two years with all his organs developing normally.
Aas Mohammad Kaif | TwoCircles.net
UTTAR PRADESH — It was the night before Eid when 25-year-old Arshi along with her sister-in-law was visiting the neighbourhood market. There was a lot of excitement. Almost all the children were busy buying something or were enjoying themselves with their families. Everybody seemed happy. Arshi was holding her child to her chest. This kid was different. Strangely, the market crowd was looking at this child with curiosity. Other children were asking their families about this child; some of them were scared too. The reason for this was the way the two-year-old Shayan looked. His head is smaller compared to other kids of this age and he is unable to stand and talk.
Arshi is a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district. She got married four years ago to Rizwan Ahmed, a daily-wage worker in Muzaffarnagar district. A year after marriage, she gave birth to a daughter who they named Nadira and a year later Shayan was born.
While Arshi was happy to have a son, she was petrified to note that the child’s head was very small. Doctor Sartaj Baig, who supervised the delivery, told TwoCircles, “I have seen thousands of newborn babies and I can say with complete certainty that I have never seen a child like this before. The size of the brain of this child was not even 10 per cent compared to normal children. I told the child’s father that the chances of this child’s progress are very less and such children rarely bring life, but it’s up to God now.”
Azeem Malik, a senior doctor at Aligarh Medical College, said that this was a brain disorder and usually, such children die before they become adults. The surprising thing, said Dr Malik, is that the child has survived for two years and all the organs including his heart are developing fine.
Dr Azeem, CMO of JN College said that Shayan is a case study. “It is God’s miracle.”
Shayan’s father, Rizwan Ahmed, barely earns Rs 300 a day. He said he was saving every penny for the kid’s treatment. Doctors have told Ahmed that Shayan might be treated abroad. Shayan has a frequent fever, chills and diarrhoea. “Shayan cries a lot, even for five hours at a stretch. He does not recognize anyone except his mother. Usually, 2-year-olds are very playful. We are very stressed about it.”
Shayan’s mother Arshi said she feels helpless every time she looks at Shayan. “I cry at night and ask Allah what have I done to earn this?”