Fifteen-year-old Ervad Zahan Turel is on the mend after suffering over 48.5% burns over his upper body while performing the boi ceremony at the Goti Adarian in Surat last October, and being confined to hospitals for two-and-a-half months.
In his update of January 27, 2021, WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trusts chairman Dinshaw Tamboly noted that community members from India and overseas contributed a total of Rs 1.18 crores (USD 162,000) till January 27, 2021 directly and through the Trusts in response to an appeal for funds. Total expenses on the treatment amounted to Rs 30.87 lakhs (USD 42,322). "WZO Trusts are holding Rs 77.26 lakhs (USD 106,000) … and will be handing over the amount soon to Zahan’s family for his continuing treatment, as well as possible further treatment at Shriner’s Children Hospital at Boston, USA, modalities and logistics of which are being worked out,” wrote Tamboly. He noted that 45% of the total funds collected came from WZO Trusts’ overseas donors.
Dr Suhas Abhyankar (l) with Ervad Zahan Turel
The chairman communicated to Parsiana on February 1 that the Trusts appealed to the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, the US region of the World Zoroastrian Organisation, Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao, Australian Zoroastrian Association and Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Singapore. They could have shared the appeal with individuals in India as the Trusts received substantial amounts from within India, all Parsis, except for two non-Zoroastrians, Tamboly stated.
Though Zahan is "unable to sit for long periods of time, he has decided to appear for his school board exams and has started gradual preparations for the same,” Tamboly stated. There is every possibility that the priest may also require reconstructive surgeries and/or cosmetic surgery sometime in the future, he noted. Zahan will "have to wear pressure garments for two to three years… Daily occupational therapy is being undertaken at Masina Hospital’s occupational therapy center. He continues to receive regular counseling,” noted Tamboly.
When the lad was admitted to Bombay’s Masina Hospital on October 25 after a short stint the day before in a Surat hospital, he tested positive for coronavirus. During this period, "the plastic surgeon and burns specialist were not allowed to enter the Covid ward.” Zahan was shifted to an intensive care unit in November 2020. Treatment included two skin grafts, before being discharged on January 4, 2021.
The Hosptial’s chief executive officer Dr Vispi Jokhi communicated, in a message circulated by Tamboly, that "On (Zahan’s) journey to recovery WZO has been in close touch with us and every penny has been accounted for which speaks volumes for the trust between WZO and Masina Hospital Trust… One of the clinical outcomes of the treatment for burns injury in Masina is the near absence of disfiguring scars and contractures,” he noted. Appreciating the dedication of consultant Drs Suhas Abhyankar and Arvind Vartak (see "A burning problem,” Parsiana, November 21-December 6, 2020), Jokhi stated that "the Hospital also worked to boost his morale with regular counseling and motivation from our psychologists.”