Raja died aged 5 hours old.
Raja had a fatal birth defect called anencephaly – which
means he was born with much of his skull missing, and most of his brain
exposed. His optical nerves failed to form normally, so he was totally blind. Anencephaly
strikes 1 in 10000 babies. Raja happened to be that baby. He was not expected
to live long –babies with anencephaly, after all, often die almost immediately
after birth.
Raja’s mother knew about her baby’s condition 5 months into
her pregnancy. Needless to say, it was devastating news. A typical expecting the
birth of a child would spend the pregnancy preparing for the arrival of a brand
new individual – their own flesh and blood. Raja’s family spent the pregnancy
preparing for the death of the child. There would be no baby shower, only a
funeral. Instead of preparing a crib, they prepared a coffin.
Raja’s 5-hour life was longer than anybody expected it to
be. Some expected him to, quite literally, drop dead instantly after
birth. Yet he stayed around long enough
to spend time with his extended family, who was all there. He spent his brief
life close to his mother, a cap covering his vulnerable head.
The most touching part of the documentary was after Raja had
died, and his diminutive body was being passed around the room, to be held by
his family members. Watching the love in their eyes, love for a family member
they would never watch grow up. Then he was lowered into his coffin, like any
baby being put to sleep for his afternoon nap.
Watching this documentary on TV made hit me hard. I compared
myself to Raja’s parents, his family. To Raja himself.
Am I as strong as Raja’s mother, who chose to carry her baby
to term despite knowing about her child’s fatal birth defect?
Am I as supportive as Raja’s family, who dropped everything
to travel from afar and comfort a loved one in need?
How many lives have I touched in my life…the way Raja has
touched so many lives in 5 hours?
Do I value the gift of existence…a gift denied to Raja?
We always complain that 24 hours a day is not enough to do anything. Raja teaches us that you can
do so much in just 5.
I admire Raja. He was blind, but he inspired others to see.
He died young, but he inspired others to live. He did not leave any last words,
but his message is priceless:
Thank God every day for the simple gift of existence.
Raja’s full story below:
I wish to see that brief moment of 5 hours that raja gave, where raja was more than just a baby, to be expanded into our life where we truly... not just express it in words,writing,sayings, correlating and understanding, but graven deep into our actions and principles, for our children, leaders, teachers, friends and families, labourers, brothers and sisters, boys and girls, man and woman, to feel that we are more than just who we are... that is a dream... and idealistic dream... of mine... which... i have yet felt...
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