E-Paper
Pune teen beats the flu to celebrate 14th birthday
On Saturday, Mithilesh Gawali turned 14. And a crowd gathered at his home. But it wasn’t just a birthday bash. They had also gathered to celebrate his victory over a disease that had kept the entire country on a tizzy for quite some time now.
On Saturday, Mithilesh Gawali turned 14. And a crowd gathered at his home.
But it wasn’t just a birthday bash. They had also gathered to celebrate his victory over a disease that had kept the entire country on a tizzy for quite some time now.
Mithilesh’s birthday was special because he had just recovered from swine flu.
“My intention behind celebrating my son’s birthday was to tell all that swine flu is curable and there is nothing to panic provided we take timely steps,” said his father Bhagawan Gawali.
Special invitees for Mithilesh’s birthday were eight of his friends from New India School — all from class X — who had also tested positive in July. All of them recovered within eight days.
S. Padhye, whose daughter Preshita had also tested positive, said: “The gathering today is to tell people that it’s a curable disease.”
Mithilesh tested positive on July 27 after he developed severe headache, besides cough and cold.
“I was kept in isolation at hospital and home during seven days of the quarantine period. I did not panic as my parents and relative were all supportive,” said Mithilesh.
At the end of the celebration, Mithilesh and his friends vowed to attend school from Monday.
