Furrukh Mughal is a 17-year-old teenager who is interested in all the things boys of his age are into. He likes to eat junk food, listen to music, watch TV and is hooked on to the Internet. But the similarities end there as Furrukh is suffering from muscular disorder and is unable to walk, talk and use his body the way his peers do. But seeing his exhibition of photographs recently at a local hotel it was very difficult to gauge that Furrukh is physically handicapped, so diversified and vibrant were the topics which reflect his talent and intelligence.
Furrukh’s sister Sanam, who is the closest to him, feels that everyone has a capacity and a will to do as much as is possible and sometimes beyond that, whatever their drawbacks. As Furrukh has been a very confident person since his childhood he does everything independently but needs help while walking. There is sadness in her voice as she states that this country does not cater to disabled people and families are shy of bringing such persons forward because they are either overprotective or ashamed of them being seen by others and made fun of. “If families of disabled and special children banded together and demanded facilities for them including special schools, perhaps the government would wake up and give them some facilities,” she opined.
Furrukh’s parents were heartbroken as they could not send him to a school that catered to the needs of such children, as none existed here. There were plenty of such schools in the West but it was not possible for them to relocate to a new environment as their other five children’s education would have been disturbed in the process, and Furrukh’s father would also have had to re-establish himself. They then tried to send him to a normal school, but all the leading schools in the city refused to give him admission despite his parents offering a helper to be with him in school. So in the end it was decided that Furrukh should be home schooled, and a teacher would come every day and teach him the basics. Being bright he picked up things very quickly and his siblings also pitched in, helping him in reading and writing.
“We as normal people put of doing things if we are tired and make excuses for not doing them, but Furrukh never delays anything as he is so full of life. He has a zest for living and is also passionate about the arts. He has loved music since he was very young and likes to share everything with me. He wanted to make a music band a few years ago, and chose me as the vocalist as I have a good voice and like to sing. I am the eldest and he is the youngest of six siblings so I took care of him when he was a baby, that’s why we are very close. I would discuss secrets with him and was his confidante till the time I got married and left for Saudi Arabia,” Saman recalls smiling.
The unconditional love and support of his parents and siblings has given Furrukh the courage and strength to live as normal a life as possible. He in turn has inspired them and made them proud of him for fighting the obstacles with stoic determination. His parents feel that if he had received specialised help from institutions he could have done even better.
Furrukh was born a normal, healthy baby and when he was eight months old during teething he had diarrhea and was taken to the doctor and admitted in hospital. He was administered a drip in an air-conditioned room, and as the nurses had taken off his clothes he developed double pneumonia. Furrukh stopped breathing and was taken to another hospital immediately as he had become blue and lifeless. He had stopped inhaling for seven minutes and was thus put on ventilation for a few days and ultimately did revive, but was in the hospital for some months. Due to deprivation of oxygen to his brain he became comatose.
His sister Sanam used to make a funny noise which Furrukh loved when he was well, and one day while visiting him in hospital she made that same noise. Furrukh responded by smiling and encouraged by the response she repeatedly made the sound and he opened his eyes. He became well gradually after that and revived completely but the area of the brain that controls the muscles was damaged extensively. Thus his speech continues to be slurred, he can walk with help only and is unable to hold things properly. His family’s care and his will to live and lead a normal life has helped him tremendously in his recovery.
Furrukh was later taken to America and the doctors were surprised at the child’s progress as people who have faced a similar condition do not respond well, remaining in a vegetable-like state all their lives. They said that the family had given love and stimulated him so well with things around him that his brain had remained active and was able to respond. He is on medication and physiotherapy but he lives a normal life otherwise and his family treats him as such, especially his mother who says that love and prayers have brought him back.
Furrukh got interested in photography at the age of 14 as his older brother was into photography. He started taking photos with the help of a stand and became adept at it, choosing unusual topics such as a poor woman sitting on a floor smoking a biri, fishermen going fishing at dawn and anything pertaining to nature.
Furrukh can use the computer and is on Facebook and can also paint very well, using bright colours because they reflect happiness. He is also learning French and Pushto and knows Urdu, English and Sindhi. His family’s love has given him the confidence to believe in himself and to reach for the stars.