Retired nursing tutor and mother-in-law of Udvada accident victim Aspi Sepoy, Aban Gandhi has taken it upon herself to gently break the news of the extent of his injury to his children Maher (11) and Kayaan (seven). The boys have visited Aspi at The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital, but they have not been told about their father’s amputated legs, Aspi informed Parsiana when we visited him at the Hospital on October 20, 2017. His lower limbs were surgically severed above the knees on September 19 after he injured himself at Udvada station, reportedly having fallen from the platform under a train. A caretaker of the Zoroastrian Information Centre in Udvada, the Navsari resident was moved to the Hospital in Bombay after a two-day stay at Valsad’s Civil Hospital.
Clockwise from above left: Aspi, Maher and Kayaan Sepoy, Dinshaw Tamboly and Sarosh Sepoy;
donors have contributed over Rs 60,00,000 through WZO for Aspi’s treatment
Aspi is optimistic about being present for the Iranshah Udvada Utsav (IUU), to be held from December 23 to 25. Prior to the accident, he had already booked tickets to the IUU for himself, his children and brother Sarosh, who plies a rickshaw in Navsari. "I am not sure... it may be too soon to hope for that,” reasons Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trust Funds, who was also visiting Aspi. Sarosh has been living with Aspi at the Hospital since he was moved here. Aspi’s wife Kashmira had passed away a few years ago. In addition to garnering funds of Rs 64.60 lakhs (USD 99,340) from 338 donors for Aspi’s treatment and rehabilitation through the Trust, Tamboly has roped in counsellor Binaifer Sahukar to provide emotional support to Aspi. "You may want to ask her about the best way to break the news to the children,” he advises.
Aspi says he is making good progress. "Ruj aavi gayuch (the wounds have healed),” he says, as a grimace fleetingly passes over his face. "The wounds were dressed only yesterday... two stitches are yet to be removed from the right leg,” he informs Tamboly. He started physiotherapy about 10 days ago. When the Hospital staff was away for the Diwali holidays, Aspi says he was trying to sit up in bed on his own every day, as advised. "Thaaki jaounch tau bhi karruch [I do (the exercises) even though I get tired],” he tells us. Each day he is moved to the Hospital veranda overlooking the gardens for half an hour. Measurements for his prosthetics have been taken. Tamboly tells him that funds for the artificial limbs are ready.
The single parent shows us pictures of a birthday celebration for Kayaan. Aspi and Sarosh celebrate the children’s birthdays before their school term starts in Poona each year. "I think Maher wants to go into the medical line,” he says, adding that it is also foretold in his horoscope ("énna tapka ma bhi chhè”). Aspi does not know when he will be out of Hospital. His faith in the team of Drs Jamshed Bunshah and Jehanbux Chichgar, who are treating him, shows when he says, "éloko best jaané (they know best).”