The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Foundation to help muscular dystrophy patients formed in Tirupati

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 01, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Foundation to help muscular dystrophy patients formed in Tirupati

Staff Reporter

Venkatesh's mother Sujatha takes the initiative after son's death

FOR A CAUSE: Sujatha, founder of the Venkatesh Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.

TIRUPATI: Muscular dystrophy (MD), once considered a tongue twister in medical parlance, became all too familiar with the heart-rending episode of Venkatesh, who succumbed to it in December last. Despite all efforts to bring him back on his feet, his mother, Sujatha, was destined to see her twenty-plus son breathe his last.

Though down for a while with what could have been the saddest part of her life, the perseverance-personified mother immediately recovered and decided on her next step. Determined to put an end to the grievances of mothers like her, she decided to do her bit to keep the disease at bay. She formed the Venkatesh Muscular Dystrophy Foundation (VMDF) which, in fact, was Venkatesh's dream during his last days.

Muscular Dystrophy, a result of loss of muscle function in an area of the body, leads to immobility of organs, including legs, arms, neck and even heart and lungs. Though no specific reasons are attached, it has been found that young adults in the 20-25 age group are the worst-hit.

Number of patients

Venkatesh was one among the many sufferers. Official records have put the number of MD patients in the State at 600 while Ms. Sujatha fears that the number might go beyond the 2,000-mark. By floating this foundation, she has decided to restore the brighter part of life in the MD-affected persons. "The moment they are rendered immobile, children start feeling inferior and consider themselves a burden. This feeling has to be removed," she says, recalling that Venkatesh used to play chess and carom and draw cartoons like any other healthy child, even while lying on bed.

Speaking to newsmen here on Saturday, she said her plan was to form units of ten villages each, hold medical camps to identify cases and adopt 100 such children. She said children found it difficult to walk, squat, stand or lift hands up, which are common symptoms for the disease. "It may not be an ortho problem. Consulting a neurologist can help," she said. Amar of Tirupati, also muscular dystrophy patient, has been appointed the foundation's Rayalaseema in-charge, who can be reached at 0877-2246397 for more information. "The disease, which has no treatment as on date, may have one soon. Maybe, I was not fortunate enough to save my son," she said.

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