Post News Network
Bantala, May 12: Ekadasi Sahu of Nandapur village under this police limits in Angul district had a happy family with his wife Tikili, daughter Sabita and son Deepak until ill fate hit them in the form of his daughter’s illness 11 months ago.
Both Sabita and Deepak were studying in Class IX and Class VIII respectively at the Kalinga High School here.
Sahu has sold everything at his disposal and has also borrowed heavily for brining his 14-year-old daughter out of coma since March last year but failed.
With tears rolling down from his eyes, Ekadasi narrated his ordeal which is nothing but a poignant tale about a man’s love for his daughter and his lone fight to bring her out of coma. He has lost all hopes now and only waiting to sell himself as he finds himself caught in a debt trap.
Sabita was cycling to school with her friends when she met with an accident after she
applied brakes as a dog crossed her way. She fell down and became unconscious. Her friends with the help of passerby brought her home. Her family members rushed her to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack for treatment.
She remained under treatment for 20 days but slipped into coma and failed to recover. Lying in her bed, Sabita has not been able to move or speak for last 11-months. Ekadasi has already spent over `4 lakh for her treatment and has even sold his house, farmland and all ornaments of his wife.
Moreover, he has even mortgaged lands of his brothers to borrow money for his daughter’s recovery. He has borrowed `30,000 from Bank of Baroda and over `50,000 from various self-help groups. He has also borrowed heavily from neighbours and relatives but the cruel fate has not yet smiled on him.
While Ekadasi has no health insurance for his daughter, neither the district administration nor any other organisation has come forward to help him.
When contacted, both Ekadasi and his wife broke into tears and said after spending everything for their daughter’s treatment, they were only waiting to sell themselves.
Headmaster Sridhar Pradhan and teacher Ranjan Sahu wished Sabita a speedy
recovery and said she was a meritorious student but the cruel fate had planned something else for her.