Dubai: Santhosh Battles with Life, Yearns for Help to Return Home

Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Dec 6: Like any other youth dreaming of greener pastures, 29-year-old Santhosh Nicolas too tried his fortune in Dubai, hoping to uplift his poor family, of which he is, or was, the sole breadwinner.

Now, for the past one-and-a-half years, Nicolas has been lying in Rashid Hospital, unable to move and suffering greatly from sacral sores. And worse, he has no means to return home to Mangalore for further treatment.

Nicolas is from the MRPL Colony, Chelairu, Mangalore. After a lot of struggle and repeated attempts on his part, he was selected to join ETA Group, Emirates Trading Agency, Dubai as an electrician. It was a new beginning for him, but fate had other plans.

While working in the Metro Project in Dubai, he suffered a fall from a height of about five metres, landing on his neck. He was admitted to Rashid Hospital, and he was diagnosed to have lost all sensation in his body. He cannot move even when lying down, and has developed sacral bed sores of grade III. He cannot talk and somebody has to feed him. The only way he is able to express himself is through his eyes and his limted voice.

However, he seems much better now compared to last year. The Hospital doctors have suggested that he should be taken to India for further treatment, so it has been decided to shift him to a hospital in Mangalore, his hometown.

The problem, though, is that Nicolas has no one to support him back in Mangalore. The expenses of the travel itself are high, and unaffordable given his financial condition. The flight ticket itself will cost about 3500 Dhs, and the treatment in Mangalore too will be beyond his means. His family, as stated, is poor, hardly able to make ends meet and already under the burden of handling his current medical expenses. Help from various quarters has helped in managing things so far, and it has been decided to shift Nicolas to Mangalore by mid-December. However, he is still in need of financial help in order to return home.

Anyone willing to see him may visit him in Rashid Hospital, ward number 1, bed number 22 , after 4.30 pm. For the last one-and-a-half years he has been waiting eagerly with the hope that someone may come to his rescue. A few minutes with him will make a difference to his life. He has no one to give him company, and when he was told that prayers will be offered for him, he simply closed his eyes with an expression of hopelessness. His mother is going through unimaginable trauma and pain, not being able to even see her son in his difficult times.

Philanthropists, organisations and individuals are requested to come forward and help Nicolas come back to Mangalore and get the required treatment, so that he may at least have a chance to recover. Those unable to help him financially are requested to pray for his health.

You may send your contributions to Nicolas' mother, Severin:

Account Name: Severin Fernandes
Account No: SB Account No. 10568905114
Bank Name: State Bank of India
                       Karnad, Mulki,
                       Mangalore 574154
                       India
IFSC Code: SBIN0007901

Tel: Mob: Br Sunil : 00919844108496

For more details in Dubai, contact,

Dayan  D’Souza Mukamar: 050-6547235
Hilda/ Julies: 050-4947228/050-5169322/
Melwin Cardoza:  055-4725936

Those wishing to help him financially are requested to act immediately, so that appropriate flight arrangements may be done at the earliest.