Thalassaemic twins clear NEET

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, June 22

Ashu and Nishu, 17-year-old thalassaemic twin brothers of Ajaib village in the district, have proved the old adage ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’.

The twins, who have been battling thalassaemia and related health disorders or complications ever since their birth, have also defeated the deadly Hepatitis-C.

Yet, the brave brothers have also realised their childhood dream of becoming doctors and have cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to MBBS course. Nishu has secured 8th rank, while Ashu got the 127th position in the unreserved physically handicapped category.

“We have been undergoing regular medical treatment since we were very young. We used to see doctors and other medicos at work and got inspired by them. A desire to become doctors and wear white coats to serve others grew within us and became the goal of our life,” said Nishu and Ashu, while talking to The Tribune at their rented accommodation here on Friday.

Their father Krishan Singh Nain, a schoolteacher, observes that if a doctor does his job with a service motive without any greed, he/she is doing God’s work. He appreciated the Jeevanrekha project being run for the treatment of Hepatitis-C at the PGIMS here.

“I tell my sons to work honestly, sincerely and dedication and never try to fleece patients after they join this noble profession,” he maintains.

As of now, the twins are elated at their success and attribute it to their parents, especially their mother Pramila Devi, and their alma mater, RKP Senior Secondary School, Madina. While Nishu aspires to become a heart specialist, Ashu wants to be an orthopaedic surgeon.

But the path to success has not been smooth or easy for the boys. They have been facing multifarious health disorders and complications and have been taking medication. Apart from taking oral and injectible drugs, Ashu and Nishu have also to get two units of blood transfused every fortnight.

“Nearly a week prior to the NEET exam, Nishu had high fever. His haemoglobin count was reduced to 3g/dl and he almost decided to skip the exam. But we pushed him to go ahead and luckily, his health condition and haemoglobin count improved and he was able to take the exam,” recounts Nain.

Dr Parveen Malhotra, Head of the Department of Medical Gastroenterology at the PGIMS, who had treated the brothers for Hepatitis-C, said the courage and determination shown by them were exemplary and inspirational.