He left home to save mom hospital bills

Here's a heartwarming story of how a runaway child got a new life

He left home to save mom hospital bills

Here's a heartwarming story of how a runaway child got a new life

WHEN 11-year-old Muniraju learnt that he had a heart problem, he walked out of home he didn't want to burden his family with the medical expenses.

Muniraju, who lost his father at an early age, lived with his mother, younger brother and an elder sister at Hosur. When he complained of pain, his mother took him to Victoria Hospital where the doctors said he had to undergo surgery, costing Rs 1.5 lakh.

"Listening to this, his mother was heartbroken because she could not afford it. Knowing the family condition, Muniraju ran away from the hospital. He did not want to add to his family's poverty," said Fr Jaimon, director of Bosco Yuvodaya.

After several days on the streets, Muniraju was found huddled at a street corner, his body bloated. Volunteers of Bangalore Oniyavara Seva Coota (Bosco) rushed him to hospital. "He was on the verge of death. We rushed him to Narayana Hrudayalaya, but the doctors said the treatment would be expensive. They tried to find donors," he said.

Meanwhile, Fr Jaimon came across Dr Joseph Xavier of Needy Heart Foundation.

"He diagnosed Muniraju and said he had to undergo Mitral Valve Replacement, a rare surgery. In December 2005,Muniraju was operated on successfully," he said. After the surgery, Muniraju was taken to Bosco and stayed there till he recovered completely. Once he recovered, he was sent back home.

"But his mother could not keep her son with her due to poverty. She wanted to educate him but was unable to so do. So she brought him back to Bosco and asked us to educate her son. Now Muniraju, who is 15, is learning computers and screen-printing," he said.