Kumar Siddhant aka Bobby is my brother-in-law.
If I have to sum up his life in short, it is ‘Start believing, you can and you will.’ Bobby was born to Mr. Phudena Singh and Mrs. Kiran Singh in 2003. He is the youngest son and is dear to everyone. His parents never knew why their child is slow in every aspect nor any doctor helped them to know. He never spoke properly, he had certain health issues too. With time his health improved but his mental growth was lacking far behind. Everyone had accepted that he is that way only.
When Bobby was 9 years old and his elder brother (Kumar Prakash) went to Delhi for his further studies, gradually he came to know what is issue with his brother and what is Trisomy21. After discussing with his family he booked and appointment with Dr. Praveen S Mehta at Child development Clinic (CDC) at Karolbagh.
IQ test was conducted by Dr. Imran Noorani and Bobby scored 68! Doctors told he could have done phenomenal if Bobby would have been enrolled for Early Intervention Programme! Anyways we moved ahead with whatever options we had that time. We started occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy and special education for him at CDC.
As, At that time no such clinic were present in Bihar and Bobby’s parents couldn’t shift to Delhi permanently so they decided to travel Delhi every 3 to 4 months and stayed there for 15 or more days for these classes. We were blessed to have Ms. Pooja Prakash as Bobby’s Special educator, she always made sure we understand the method and its application. She was always there to help us out, even today!
All doctors and therapist prepared training programme for every 3-4 months which can be practiced at home. Bobby’s classes were of great help, he started to improve but Bobby’s parents were not able to cope up with intricacies of these programmes. Prakash would skip his college for 15 or more days and go back to Muzaffarpur to keep doing what doctors and therapists would asked to do but it was hampering his studies.
So, Prakash asked me for help. I met Bobby and just felt an unknown connection with him. His eyes, full of love. He accepted me the moment we met! We were doing great. He lacked in speech but he had a great memory and our main aim was to make him understand and memorize so that he can convey with best possible way. Our next goal was to get him enrolled in a normal school, as he was required to be social and be more self-dependent (till 9 years of age he was reading only at home).
After many disappointment we saw a glimpse of faith in the Principal of our alma mater, Mrs. Nilam Singh readily accepted to admit Bobby. She loved Bobby and appreciated him. He faced bullying and lot other problems there but he loved to go to school! We were glad that he has started to know himself and his likes dislikes. He studied in this school till class two!
In 2016 I and Prakash married and decided to keep Bobby with us, It was easy to travel Delhi or Mumbai from Surat for Bobby’s therapies. It was still tough but we decided to take first step and here again God granted us with blessings. In Surat we met Meghna di, and life of three of us changed. Now it was all accessible in Surat and gradually all good things happened.
Bobby was enrolled in institute named ILI(Independent Living Institute) where he started to learn which he missed by not going to CDC, Delhi. He started to go to dance classes and Tae kwon do classes too. He loved every class and he was improving rapidly.
All teachers are wonderful and their guidance helped me to achieve wherever i lacked something. I must say as guardian we doubt the capabilities of our child and ourselves but these little angles make you do unbelievable things!
Bobby always did beyond our expectations! He is always full of joy and confidence.
He had even performed dance at Gandhi Smruti Bhavan, Surat, that day will be always memorable for us. He and his dance partners were covered in local newspaper. In Tae-kwon-do which was only to make him engaged and fit , but there too…
He made is surprised by achieving White, Yellow, and Green belt! Initially teachers we ‘rent able to communicate with him but with time trainers and he built a great rapport. School classes made him more confident and now he approaches every other person and greets them. Everyone in our society knows him now and always greet Bobby ! He is favourite of his teachers too!
He learnt making candles and soap and sold all these in an exhibition arranged by his institute ILI. He learnt cooking at school and now he loves to know and cook new dishes. He knows to make Chai, Roti, Rice, Khichdi, Poha and few other dishes. We have uploaded many of his cooking videos on his youtube channel, ‘Super Teen and Trysomy 21’, so that parents and kids out there can get to learn and explore!
He has learned stiches from last month, he knows French Knot, Chain Stich, Blanket Stich, Back Stich. He can stich buttons, hooks and we are trying to make him learn about basic stitching. He made organic colours at school and sold to few shops with help of his teachers. Thee all enhanced his abilities and confidence. He does all his chores himself, whether it is to make his bed, Bathe, Washing his cloth, Dressing Or Ironing! He washes his utensils and helps me a lot!
Now in this Corona, he learnt to communicate with his friends on a video call! He loves his friends and made Friendship band for them. He made Rakhi for us, he made Diya last diwali…and the list is endless! He always tries to make everyone happy, whether he doesn’t understand what is the reason behind anyone’s sadness but he understands that one is sad. He tries his best to make that person smile. He is a Santa for us and we are blessed to have him! He made us a to be a better human being!
Our only dream is to see him independent and we will make it done for sure!
NISHITA
(BOBBY’S BHABHI)
