- Weather
-
|
|
|
|
Max |
: |
40°C |
|
Min |
: |
30°C |
|
Sunrise |
: |
05 : 30 AM |
|
Sunset |
: |
06 : 30 PM |
|
Humidity |
: |
50 to 80 per cent |
|
|
- Prayer Time
-
|
Fajar |
: |
04:02 am |
|
Dhuhr |
: |
12:08 pm |
|
Asar |
: |
03:31 pm |
|
Magrib |
: |
06:46 pm |
|
Isha |
: |
08:04 pm |
- Oil Price
-
- Gold Price
-
Price in RO
|
|
24ct / gm |
: |
17.99 |
|
22ct / gm |
: |
17.55 |
- Currency Rates
-
Forex Rates vs R01
|
|
US Dollar |
: |
2.59 |
|
Euro |
: |
2.02 |
|
Pound |
: |
1.71 |
|
Indian Rs. |
: |
142.40 |
|
Pak Rs. |
: |
255.91 |
|
Bangla Taka |
: |
201.79 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
According to medics in Kerala, the cost of the life-saving surgery of Vishak will be around OMR17,986. Photo – Supplied picture
|
|
Muscat: Readers of Times of Oman have raised OMR12,600 in 20 days for an Indian boy's treatment for aplastic anaemia—a condition where the bone marrow does not produce enough new blood cells to replace the old ones.
Times of Oman published the plight of Vishak, the son of an Indian tailor in Sur, in the article titled 'Expat family faces tragic test yet again' on January 29.
According to medics in Kerala, where Vishak is undergoing temporary treatment, the cost of the life-saving surgery will be around OMR17,986. As a permanent recovery solution, Vishak has to have bone-marrow replacement surgery.
"If the bone marrow of either parent matches Vishak's, then we will be able to do it at a cheaper rate of OMR10,792. By next week, we will be able to offer a clearer picture," said Neeraj Siddharth, a senior medic at Amirta Institute of Medical Sciences, where Vishak will be treated.
After the story was published, Bahwan Cyber Tek LLC and Bahwan DHL LLC contributed OMR875 for Vishak's treatment. The company's CFO, Karthik Sundraraman, handed over the donations to Padmini Raina Atal, Charity Secretary of the Times of Oman Readers' Club, in the presence of Vinod Panicker, chief patron of the Readers' Club.
Muscat Press & Publishing (Times of Oman) employees have also raised OMR529 for the fund.
Last week, the employees and owners of Ali & Abdul Karim Group Company in Muscat donated OMR1,180.
Employees at Bank Sohar's head office raised OMR500, and Payannur Sahurda Vedi members donated approximately OMR350 to the charity fund.
Members of Al Faizal Cricket Team have also donated OMR250, which they had received as prize money for winning a match.
"The money will be handed over to the hospital authorities," Vinod Panicker stated.
Since Vijayan and Mini, the parents of Vishak, lack the money for the bone-marrow replacement surgery, they have scheduled dialysis treatments twice a month at a hospital in Kerala.
Dialysis expenses
"We are now spending almost OMR143 for the dialysis and other medicines. We don't know for how long we will be able to continue it," Mini remarked. The couple's first son had passed away as a result of the same ailment at the age of 11 in 2002.
"Our second son has been suffering from this disease for the last six years," his parents noted.
"We had to spend a lot of money on Vishnu's treatment. We had to sell everything we had, but we couldn't rescue him. After his death, our second son, Vishak, was also afflicted by the disease. We have been trying our best to rescue him. But we are financially broke now. We don't know what to do," stated the boy's parents.
The couple had spent a huge sum on the treatment of their elder son, who had also suffered from heart ailments. "When we found that Vishak had the same disease, it was a huge shock. I was not ready to give up. I tried my best. But now, I am not able to raise funds for Vishak's treatment. I am just a tailor. How much money can I make by pedalling the sewing machine?"
Helping hand
"I heard that kind-hearted people are trying their best to help us. Other than prayers, I have nothing in return for them," Mini said.
Social workers have remained in touch with the medics to get updates on Vishak's health.
"Even though we have raised some money for the boy's treatment, we need more.
We are doing our part. But to meet the surgery expenses, a coordinated effort is needed," Shajahan, an Indian consular agent in Sur, explained. For more details, contact Vinod Panicker, chief patron of Times of Oman Reader's Club (readersclub@timesofoman.com), on 96077888 or Shajahan MAK at the Indian Consular Agent in Sur on 9931732
|
|
|
|
|
|
|