On 10 April this year, Ayaan Bhoopal turned six years old. This was no ordinary celebration as this is no ordinary child.
As a result of a heart defect, Ayaan only saw the faces of close friends and family, and the inside of hospital rooms for the first five years of his life. His mother, Seshma Bhoopal, said she took a huge leap of faith at the beginning of this year and enrolled Ayaan at Buccleuch Primary School so that he could socialise with other children for the first time in his life.
Seshma said her son was doing better than ever before and was loving school. “I was concerned about the social aspect of school as he has never been in a school environment before,” she said. “Nothing in the world can stop Ayaan, and during the school holidays, he continuously asked me when he could go back to school. His report was exceptional and I could not believe how well he did in the classroom. He was deprived of a lot for so long and now he just wants to live.”
She added that perhaps as a mother, she was biased and that Ayaan’s teacher would be able to give a more objective comment. However, teacher Audrey, who did not want to disclose her full name, had just as many positive things to say about Ayaan and said he was one of the most enthusiastic pupils in the classroom.
“Ayaan is coping better than expected and he puts everything into his work,” she said.
“His social skills are not an issue at all and it is so touching how the other children take care of him and make sure that he is always alright.”
Ayaan has not allowed the fact that he walks around with a portable oxygen machine to dampen his spirits. Audrey said he performed well in the physical education classes. “If the students are jumping, he will jump. He does whatever the other students do and he refuses to allow anything to stop him.”
Ayaan said his favorite place was school and that he loved the school’s jungle gym.
“Aayan has never realised his limitations and with him, anything is possible,” concluded Audrey.
