Cerebral palsy stalks parents

Balurghat, Jan. 6: Their son died when he was 18. Now Ranjit Ghosh and his wife Jharna are spending sleepless nights afraid that they are going to lose their 11-year-old daughter Arpita soon.

Both children began to suffer from cerebral palsy from early childhood.

Ranjit, a resident of Andirpara, who sells sweets he makes to various shops, could not afford treatment.

Neither Balurghat, nor any other place in South Dinajpur, has any help to offer to those suffering from cerebral palsy. The patients need rehabilitation at specialised centres, absent in South Dinajpur.

The nearest facilities are in Siliguri.

"Arpita was normal for some time after birth. But eight months onwards we noticed that she was not developing like other kids. We met local child specialists, who said that she would be normal after some time. But the girl did not grow. Later, we came to know that it was cerebral palsy," says Ranjit.

"My second son Ripan died from the same disease. He died two years ago. He was 18. We exhausted all our in his treatment. Now we don't have any money. I don't know what I can do for Arpita. She is going to die," Ranjit said.

Their elder son is healthy.

Arpita was born on March 31, 2002, in Siliguri. She suffered from acute jaundice when she was just eight days old. At first she could speak. But that stopped too. She can only have milk and rice.

Cerebral palsy is brain paralysis caused by abnormal development or damage of brain.

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Cerebral palsy stalks parents