A New Vision

Abandoned from birth by his family, Shekh Babalu from Surat, Gujarat had a tough life plagued with rejection and discrimination due to his dwarf body. Hopeless and penniless, Shekh found refuge in the benevolence of Kaka-Ba Hospital which gave him a new purpose for life.

“I was born with dwarfism in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. My parents passed away when I was a baby and my relatives abandoned me when I was barely five years old. Helpless, I resorted to begging on the streets for survival. Due to my dwarf body, I was unable to walk and had to drag myself with the help of my hands. It was embarrassing to beg among known people so I left UP and ended up on Surat railway station. My relatives did not help me or contact me in the last two decades. I was unable to secure a job due to my condition and illiteracy and survived through begging.

My agony rose further when I developed cataract in both of my eyes leaving me completely paralyzed. Despite being offered a tricycle by the Lions Club, Surat, I was unable to ride it due to lack of clear vision. I reached out to several hospitals and clinics, but everyone refused to help me because I was unable to provide proof of identity. I lost all hope and was on the verge of committing suicide. But then, a ray of sunshine came into my life. A team of doctors from Kaka-Ba Hospital came to Surat and organized a free health checkup camp at the station. I was the first to register myself for the checkup, all the time fearful that I will be rejected without an ID proof. Thankfully, I was not asked for any document and was given a date for my cataract surgery. The hospital generously conducted free cataract surgery on both my eyes and also provided me with free medication, accommodation and food.

I am grateful to Kaka-Ba Hospital for their kind treatment and care that my loved ones had denied me. The hospital’s benevolence has restored my faith in humanity.”