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Wheelchair-bound Dubai student stands on his feet with a degree

Dubai - Piyush was 100% dependent on his parents for everything.

Dubai student Piyush Jain, 22, lost the ability to walk for almost two years and had to be placed on a ventilator for 40 days. But his positive approach to life and self-belief helped him fight challenges. He joined Heriot Watt University on a wheelchair but graduated recently with flying colours and what's more, he also walked without support to collect his degree.

Piyush jain with his parents

After finishing his high school from DPS Sharjah, Piyush Jain, then 18, went to India to study engineering and was returning to Dubai for his first vacations.

"I was so excited and happy to return home (Dubai) for Diwali, which was the next day, November 13, 2012. That day when I woke up, I felt numbness in my legs. The feeling was not exactly of pain but something which is beyond explanation." By evening almost 70% of Piyush's body had stopped moving. He was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with Gulllain Barrie Syndrome (GB Syndrome) which is an auto immune disorder in which immune system attacks our own muscular system. The disorder is very rare and affects one in a million.

"The same night my dad flew me to India as our insurance did not cover it. Within 24 hours I was completely paralysed and on artificial breathing support in ICU." ICU was his home for two and a half months.

I could not talk, move and has excruciating pain in both my legs. I was on the strongest painkillers and still I use to faint in pain."

Since everything happened in a matter of hours, it was very difficult for me to process it initially but as time went by I started understanding what is happening to me. In the whole journey, I always had a positive approach and I would somehow just always smile. I accepted this as a phase of my life which I have to fight no matter what."

Piyush was 930 dependent on his parents for everything. It was 64 days before I could move my finger little bit again and I returned to Dubai after getting discharged from the hospital. His mother left her job to be with him at home. After 4 months of physiotherapy, I could move my hand but it took almost 6 months for little movement of my legs. I was on a wheelchair for more than 1.5 years. After coming out of a wheelchair it took me around 6 months to start walking completely without support.

What helped Piyush overcome his physical and emotional challenges was his attitude. He took charge of his life and although initially he had some negative thoughts such as " Why me?", he soon made peace with his situation and accepted it as a phase. "

"My thought process as I was recovering was very positive. I knew there are two ways to handle a situation, either I cry and be sad or tackle it gracefully. I decided to do the later."

"I never stopped trying"

Piyush's magical college journey

After 9 months since he fell ill, Piyush decided to resume his studies. "Although going to college on a wheelchair was a scary thought but I had no choice but to make the most of what I had."

Not many colleges were willing to accommodate Piyush on a wheelchair it was only Heriot Watt that welcomed me by assuring the campus was well equipped for wheelchair bound students and had ramps and other facilities for such students.

What followed was a magical journey. The university adjusted Piyush's time table in such a way that he could finish his classes in three days and could focus on physiotherapy for the remaining 4 days of the week. "Professors were super cooperative. I made great friends at the university. They used to make plans of hang out to places where I can go on wheelchair and would spend all day pushing my wheelchair around. I use to have so much fun. I never felt any different from a normal college going guy."

Piyush went on to become President of the Model United Nations Club, participated in over than 10 inter-university events of debating and dramatics, represented his university at the Harvard Crossroad event in 2015, and won the title of "Student Volunteer of the Year" at the Oscars in 2016.

Piyush graduated a couple of days back and is now doing CIMA( a professional qualification) as well as is looking for jobs in Finance.

"My mantra for the days I feel low is to look at the pictures of me in ICU and tell myself, if I can come from there to what I am today, there is nothing which I can't do."

saman@khaleejtimes.com