A young boy from India, diagnosed with a rare endocrine disorder known as “gigantism,” was born with abnormally large hands that made it impossible for him to lead a normal life. However, after undergoing a groundbreaking surgery to reduce the size of his hands, he now has the opportunity to live like any other child. This remarkable transformation in the boy’s life showcases the power of modern medicine and the unwavering determination of those who refuse to let medical conditions define them.
Mohammad Kaleem, an 8-year-old boy residing with his parents in a small village in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, has faced relentless bullying from children his age due to his oversized hands. Even schools have rejected his admission, fearing that his large hands would intimidate other students.
Kaleem’s family also endured discrimination from superstitious neighbors who wrongly believed that his large hands were the result of a curse and labeled him as “the son of a demon.”
Performing everyday tasks such as bathing, changing clothes, and eating became increasingly challenging for Kaleem as his hands continued to grow. Unfortunately, his parents lacked the financial means to seek treatment for their son.
However, Kaleem’s story gained international attention through several newspapers, which ultimately led to medical experts in southern India offering their assistance.
Last year, Kaleem’s family was introduced to Dr. Raja Sabapathy, a renowned surgical pioneer. Dr. Sabapathy compassionately agreed to provide his expertise and help Kaleem in his journey.
“Dr. Sabapathy gave us hope. He was the first person to tell us that there is still a way to save my son,” expressed Haleema Begum, Kaleem’s mother.
Being one of the most intricate surgeries ever performed, the challenge for Dr. Sabapathy and his colleagues was to reduce the size of Kaleem’s hand while preserving the nerves, ensuring that the boy would retain functionality in his hand for the future.
“We opted to operate on one hand initially. This approach allowed us to assess the boy’s condition effectively,” explained Dr. Sabapathy.
Kaleem underwent a series of intricate surgeries on his right hand, followed by physical therapy to adapt to his new hand. At present, Kaleem’s parents are contemplating having their son undergo surgery on his left hand as well.
Mr. Amanullah Khan, an elderly resident of the village, shared, “In this village, we believed the boy was cursed by the gods. But now things have changed, there is a solution to fix his hand, and the boy may have a brighter future.”
Kaleem’s family holds the belief that one day soon, their son will be able to attend school. Mohammad Sabir, the principal of the local school, stated, “We know Kaleem. He had applied to enroll in our school, but for some reason, we couldn’t accept him. However, now that Kaleem’s surgery has been successful, we believe he can start attending school. We have also instructed other students not to bully Kaleem.”