'He'll be able to look at the world straight not upside down'

Mahendra Ahirwar, 12, who suffers from a rare condition that makes his neck bend and his head hang from his body, faced a bleak future before his story was publicised last month.

His once-desperate parents, from Madhya Pradesh in central India, had admitted they would rather their son died than continue to suffer, but have now thanked doctors and members of the public for their generosity.

Mahendra, whose weak backbone means he can't stand or walk and is restricted to a sitting position, is currently at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, awaiting confirmation of life-changing surgery.

Dr Rajagopalan Krishnan, a senior consultant and spinal surgeon, is hopeful he can improve Mahendra’s life. He and a team of doctors have offered the surgery at no charge to the family. 

He said: ‘I’ve done a preliminary review of the child's clinical status and we now have a working diagnosis and once I have completed a few more studies, I am pretty sure that I can correct his disability by surgery in the not too distant future. 

'At the very least, I am certain that I can improve his quality of life and he will be able to look at the world straight rather than upside down.

‘I just feel sad that nothing was done for this boy for 12 years of his life.'

Dr Krishnan studied in the UK and worked for the NHS for 15 years as a consultant orthopedic surgeon, before returning to India.

Mahendra's father Mukesh Ahirwar, 40, and mother Sumitra Ahirwar, 35, who both work as labourers, only noticed their son’s head was starting to hang when he was about six months old and by his third birthday, he wasn't able to keep his head upright.

Before meeting Dr Krishnan, they had consulted more than 50 doctors across India, none of whom could diagnose his condition. 

Mukesh, who earns about Rs200 (£2) a day on construction sites, borrowed money from his friends and relatives to help find medical treatment for his son.

But two years ago, he decided to stop taking Mahendra, who is unable to go to school, to see any doctors.

Mahendra's overwhelmed father said: 'I cannot believe how everything has changed so quickly.

'Dr Krishnan has given me hope that my son will be fine, that his neck can be lifted and I am so happy.'

(dailymail.co.uk)