When Neyyattinkara native and retired Matsyafed employee Suprabha Devi was pregnant, doctors asked her to do scanning to know the condition of the unborn baby. At that time the report said ‘all is well’ but the fate had something else in store for that mother and father Jayakumar.

When the child came out into this world, it was a shocker for the parents. It was just a lump of flesh throbbing with life. All limbs were curved inside. The baby boy didn’t cry… he couldn’t also hear. The breathing was irregular.

But, that father was not taken aback by the state of his child, which had the physical disorder known as Cerebral Palsy (CP). The doctors then said he would only live for five more years but that dear son is now getting ready for scuba diving on his 25th birthday.

This is the story of Rahul, who held the hand of his father and took his life as a challenge. He is now a post-graduate in Public Administration. He is busy with studies, reading, writing and driving.

His father Jayakumar is also as much busy with his mission to bring quality and solace to the lives of about 1200 children, inflicted with various physical deformities. Lending a helping hand to these children, he formed an organisation called Parents Association for Disabled (PAD). He has retired from SC/ST development department and he is 60 now.

For giving better treatment to his son he had shifted with his family to Thiruvananthapuram and tried all kinds of treatment. When Rahul was six, he enrolled him in the first standard of Kuravankonam UPS.

Rahul’s mother and father used to spend hours together in the school to help him. However, Jayakumar continued his research work to make his son self-reliant. Finally, his enquiries led him to Vellore Christian Medical College.

Within seven years following his seventh birthday, Rahul underwent seven surgeries. Gradually he could win his fight against physical debility and develop cognitive skills through physiotherapy and reading.

Now what the parents have to tell parents of other differently-abled children is "If my son can stand on his own feet, your children also can… with a little bit of effort".

Jayakumar also has a daughter. She is Renu and a Degree student.

Rahul has gone to New Delhi alone and has interviewed Rahul Gandhi and Aravind Kejriwal. Ask him, “what is the secret of his life’s success?” With a smile, he would answer: "My father is the reason for what I am today!"