Sandagiri overcame all odds

Sandagiri, scored 186 marks at the Grade Five scholarship examination this year. If you wonder why he gets special coverage in the media, it is because he has outshone all other Grade Five students in his school, Ananda College, Colombo

Sandagiri with his teacher Vindya

I believe, in courage. If you have the will to do anything, it can be achieved", little Menura Maneth Sandagiri Bandara said with a beaming smile.

Sandagiri, scored 186 marks at the Grade Five scholarship examination this year. If you wonder why he gets special coverage in the media, it is because he has outshone all other Grade Five students in his school, Ananda College, Colombo. the irony in his achievement is that he achieved the top slot despite suffering from a rare and cruel brain disease that is overtaking his ability to move about.

This is the what makes him to be admired appreciated by all and sundry. His 186 score, is more precious than scoring 200 marks at the examination.

He turned the tears of sorrow in his mother's eyes into tears of happiness.

Sandagiri, was felicitated at the Children's Day program at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital last week.

He received gifts while his teacher at the Hospital, Vindya, looked on with deep admiration.

In 2013 December, Sandagiri was a bright young students at Ananda College who represented school in Mathematics competitions. His two older brothers, Venura and Heliya, studying in the same school too were good in Mathematics just like him. Sandagiri's father, an old boy of the school, had excelled at the Grade 5 scholarship examination to enter Ananda College. that is the success story... but here comes the sad part.

On the night of December 26, a night ethched in the memory of both Sandagiri's parents,'I have a huge pain in my leg, I can't bear it" he complained. He felt an unbearable pain in one of his legs before going to sleep. However, he was playing during the day, therefore his mother did not worry much about it.

Sandagiri who made his parents proud with his gifts

The next day Sandagiri was unable to get up. His whole body had gone terrifyingly numb. His parents rushed him to a private hospital and the doctors were dumb founded as to what had gone wrong with him - Can a child who had been as active as any child of his age become so ill so suddenly? He was then referred to a neuro surgeon who identified what it was.

With father, mother and brother

The little boy who was nine years at the time was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome. In short, he had developed a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. It causes progressive neuro-muscular paralysis. The pain and the numbness in the leg was the first sign.

Sandagiri was rushed to Lady Ridgeway hospital where he spent over four months from December 2013. More than his illness he was upset about his inability to go to school.

"I thought, nothing is gonna change if I cry and sympathise with him. I wanted to help him do his best." Sandagiri's mother said. The Doctors at the ward were pleased to help her son to continue his education from hospital. In fact the teacher Vindya did not have the heart to take leave during theApril holidays.

When he returned to school in May 2014, his Grade Five class was shifted to the ground floor so that his wheel chair will have easy access to the class and he can join his friends in the ground without much difficulty.

Despite his illness, little Sandagiri found courage with his mother's guidance to conquer the odds.

Sandagiri and his parents thanked the Hospital staff at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital including the teacher who taught the little boy to achieve success during his painful days in hospital.

The parents also praised the Principal of Ananda College, Kithsiri Liyanagamage and his class teachers Nilanthi Medagoda, Sandya Bokalawela including the teacher in his Grade Five class who made special arrangements to facilitate his education as a special student in school.