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| Chellappan, Medical College, Kottayam |
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Perhaps it is the sick and handicapped who can understand and empathise with other unhealthy ones. Chellappan, who has been a victim of misplaced diagnosis at Medical College, Kottayam is one such person.
Chellappan’s both legs had to be amputated following a surgery in the stomach. Now a permanent resident at the Medical College, he donates a portion of the earnings from sale of lottery tickets to poor patients admitted there. His table fan provides cool breeze to the patients of ward no.14, where the rusted ceiling fans often refuse to work. The sweet songs from his tape recorder provide a soothing touch to many a soul there and he is always ready to encourage the patients with his cheering words.
A hotel worker, he had been admitted to the hospital following a rheumatic complaint. For some unknown reasons, the doctors diagnosed his disease as something to do with the stomach and operated thereon, which led to the immobility of both legs. As infection spread, both legs had to be amputated.
The loss of legs led to the severance of ties with his family and he now has adopted Medical College as his home. The Navajeevan Trust, Arpookara provides him food thrice a day. Although many have advised him to move the court against the doctors responsible for his condition, Chellappan takes everything with a pinch of resignation. His typical response is, “whatever was to happen has happened. What is the point in putting the blame on others?”
Though Medical College authorities had promised to do the needful to get a telephone booth in his name, 38-year-old Chellappan has politely refused the offer.
Courtesy: Shinto Thomas and Jacob Sebastian, Jalakam, Kottayam Press Club School of Journalism, May 8, 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
