Dubai: The Ganatra family is dealing with a double tragedy as the only two sons of Jyotindra and Ena are suffering from retinitis pigmentosa which is gradually making them lose their eyesight.
Dhawal, 29, an intelligent man with a photographic memory and an MBA, lost his job in a leading bank because of his condition, while his younger brother, Sapan, 26, works in the hospitality industry but has trouble with his vision in the night.
“It is unfortunate that both my sons suffer from this rare genetic condition. Neither my wife nor I have this condition and no one in the family has it. They were perfectly normal boys. Dhawal was born in Khor Fakkan while Sapan was born in India but both have spent their entire lives here in the UAE. They studied at The Indian School in Dubai, went for their graduation to India.”
While Dhawal did his graduation in management studies and later an MBA, Sapan is a hotel management graduate. In the beginning when their vision started deteriorating their parents took them to at least two dozen eye specialists and also tried alternative therapy. But nothing worked as the doctors diagnosed RP. Now, they have accepted their fate and hope that Dhawal gets employed.
“Sapan at least is occupied the whole day with his job at the hotel. In fact, Dhawal is blessed with exceptional intelligence. He can memorise long numbers. You give him a 16-digit number and he will be able to recall it at will. After his graduation he worked in leading multinational banks and as a stock and investment broker. But as his vision began deteriorating, he lost his job. Now his condition has stabilised and he has ‘straw vision’ (loss of peripheral vision). I am financially stable by the grace of God, but I worry for my son as he needs to be gainfully employed. He can do well in a telemarketing job as he can partially see. He is well qualified and I feel sad to see his talents wasted,” says Jyotindra who works as an engineering consultant in a leading firm.
“I am devastated by my sons’ condition but have reconciled to it. I just hope and pray Dhawal too finds a job. It breaks my heart to see him struggle to find employment,” says their mother, Ena.
Dhawal who tries to divide his time between playing sport, visiting the gym and helping at home, is hopeful of getting a job. “I have never questioned ‘why me’. What happened in my case could have happened to anyone. I feel blessed that I had perfect eyesight earlier and was able to experience the joy of sight”
Dhawal says he has attuned himself to his failing vision and had learnt to do everything and manage his life. He says he has no problem managing his day-to-day life and is confident of doing any job efficiently. He just hopes that employers are able to understand this because he is more than determined to put in his 100 per cent and excel at whatever he does. “My vision is impaired but my mind has clarity and I am capable of taking sound decisions,” says the young man who is willing to take up any kind of job that comes his way.
