Today we are deeply saddened to say goodbye to Umar Khan, a patient at the Chingari Children’s clinic, who tragically passed away on Monday, June 15th, at the age of 24. Umar suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that causes extensive loss of muscle mass. Although there is no known cure for muscular dystrophy, the symptoms can be managed through physical therapy, which Umar has been receiving regularly at Chingari for more than a decade.
Umar’s younger brother, Azhar Khan, also suffered from muscular dystrophy and passed away in December 2017, at the age of 18. Umar and Azhar’s parents are both survivors of the 1984 gas disaster and live in the Kumharpura district of Bhopal. Their father supported the family through his work as an auto-rickshaw driver, and he and their mother decided to register both boys for treatment at Chingari back in 2009, not long after it opened. Our hearts go out to them at this tragic time. Like his brother Azhar, Umar was known and loved by all the staff at Chingari who had the pleasure of working with him for many years. He will be greatly missed.
