Jeez, What right do I have to moan about anything.

Yesterday, me, my brother and dad happened to be at Acura hospital. Nothing serious, just regular aches and pains. By the time we were done, it was prayer time. We went ahead and offered prayers at a designated space at the terrace of Acura hopital. There in the corner a young man and an elderly lady were cooking dinner on a portable gas stove. Once prayers were done dad strolled by the couple and asked them in jolly manner, “What’s cooking tonight”. “Oh just Roti,” they replied bashfully. “What curry are you having with the roti?” dad continued. “No Curry, just milk. This is not for us, it’s for my 18 year old brother who was burnt in a blast.”

Here’s the rest of the story: Wasim. A welder. He was working at Total Mall at Sarjapur Road. He was one of the welders who was fixing the AC there. Some mishap took place and there was an explosion. His colleagued died on the spot. Wasim survived with major burn injuries. For the last two months, Wasim and his family were being shoved from one hospital to another. Receiving appalling treatment inspite of their employer sponsoring their care. The hospital he said were so money hungry that they refused to dress the wound for a week till the received payment. Finally just after Eid, they somehow got shifted to Acura. It’s been better since then. Other than receiving severe burns on his skin, a section of his leg has his bone completely charred.


We have personally visited Wasim and can vouch for their plight. We pressed a few thousand Rupees in his hands before leaving and his mother broke into tears. Javed continued to narrate that the operation was to take place today. But Wasim’s haemoglobin count was too low and if they did operate he wouldn’t have the strength to recover. The Doctors have asked to feed him meat or at least apples so that he could be strong enough for the operation. “But where do we have the money to buy such rich food?” the ached. Roti and milk is all that we can feed for now and an occassional boiled egg. That night, every morsel of my dinner was difficult to swallow.

Wasim’s employer has stopped funding him for now. He’s still far from being recovered. Being injured in any sort of accident is a calamity on it’s own. But then to on top of that to have no means of treatment, furthermore to have one’s earning stopped, is something I can’t think beyond. We all have some troubles and issues in our lives. Would we want to swap our difficulties for the ones that Wasim is facing? And his treatment will cost a few lakhs of Rupees.

Friends, whatever you can contribute, will highly appreciated by Wasim and his family. Remember, “Don’t be embarassed by giving little, because to the receiver getting nothing is even worse,” Imam Ali (AS). My dear friend Venkat, (mob: +91 9945436757, email: venkat_1958@hotmail.com) would gladly collect your contributions and ensure they reach Wasim at the earliest. And incase you are passing by Koramangala. Do drop by Acura Hospital (opposite National Games Village). Stop at ward no 10 and say hello to Vasim. Give him a smile. Share a few words of encouragement. It will certainly do him a world of good. And will also dawn upon us, how infinitely fortunate we are.

All Praise be to the Almighty, who has had Infinite Mercy on us. Parents, Health, Respect, Means of Livelihood are blessings that are the most Divine. Yet the most unappreciated. Why does man insists to be so foolish that he has to forego what he has to grateful for what he has.

My God, the uninterrupted flow of Thy graciousness hast distracted me from thanking Thee!
The flood of Thy bounty has rendered me incapable of counting Thy praises!
The succession of Thy kind acts has diverted me from mentioning Thee in laudation!
The continuous rush of Thy benefits has thwarted me from spreading the news of Thy gentle favours!
This is the station of him who confesses to the lavishness of favours, meets them with shortcomings, and witnesses to his own disregard and negligence.

Whispered Prayer of the Thankful by Imam Zainul Abideen (As)

8 Comments

  1. Arif

    Please be aware that there is a program called “Surakha”, that assists burn victims upon acute hospitalization discharge and care is given at home, most of the times on free or very low fees by volunteers.

    One of the founders of Surakha and Chief Executive was here visiting NY and came to know of this wonderful program to help burn victims.

    Hope you can guide this family for such resources. I am of the firm belief, that showing compassion is humane but godly becomes when we actually take the next step to help such human beings irrespective of caste, creed or religious boundaries. There is one speciies and it is human being and help humanity is serving god at the final notes.

    Vasu

  2. Hi Vasu,

    Thanks so much for pointing me out to Surakha. Is there a contact number or email address you have handy for these guys?

    Warm wishes,
    Arif

  3. Hi Srinivas,

    Thanks for your concern.

    I visited Wasim day before yesterday. His condition is pretty much the same, it’ll take a while for him to recover. Poor fellow is in intense pain. Although his burn wounds are bad, it’s his ear and leg that are really unbearable. His family tells me, the pains so bad he can’t sleep all night, because of which they too can’t sleep and stay awake.

    Since my blog post, many friends have contacted myself or Venkat to help Wasim out. Venkat received calls from as far as Sharjah and China for contributions. Swaroop, (a buddy of mine), went ahead and arranged for TV9 to cover Wasim’s plight so as to raise funds. Jazakallah may God bless all of you.

    I’ll try my best to continue to post updates either on this blog post or subsequent posts.

    Warm wishes,
    Arif

  4. Hi Arif

    Here is the infromation you requested on this case in particular

    contact:
    NAVEEN CHALLAM
    President
    TEAM SURAKSHA
    94490-59945 or 98452 05299
    naveen_challam@yahoo.com
    RAM PRAKASH
    secretary
    94484 95670
    vedicram@gmail.com

    office

    3905 13th a cross 9th main CT Bed Banashankari II stage
    bangalore 560070 phone 80-26711534

    HOPE this helps to offer further assistance to this young man in his recovery

    Man is god made and religion is man made

    Let us work for humanity and so serve GOD

    Vasu Murthy

  5. Dear Vasu,

    Thanks so much. Yes, received the contact details and have also initiated for someone to get in touch with Naveen. Jazakallah. God bless you.

    Wishing you a wonderful Diwali!

    Arif

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *