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“I’m determined to stand up again. I will not allow myself to be dependent on others. The day of the accident is still fresh in my memory – I held on because I knew I had to live for my children,” says a confident Aspi, who greets all visitors with a smile that deceives the tragedy he has overcome. Aspi has responded very well and put in all his effort to make the best of his ongoing treatment at BD Petit Parsee General Hospital over the past months, under the supervision of a team of dedicated doctors – orthopaedic Dr. Jamshed Bunshah, physician Dr. Jehanbux Chichgar and counselor Binaifer Sahukar – who served gratis.

“I’m extremely grateful to all the donors across India and the world who have helped me – my recovery so far is due to your joint efforts,” says Aspi, also expressing sincere thankfulness to the Federation For Development of Udvada (FDU) Chairman, Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor and FDU Trustee and Chairman of World Zoroastrian Organization Trust (WZOT), Dinshaw Tamboly, for spearheading the funding initiative. Once the expenses are catered to, the surplus funds collected would be divided and invested in a ‘regular deposit’ to provide Aspi monthly income to run his family; and a separate ‘cumulative deposit’ that will take care of his future and long term well-being.

 

Aspi currently owns two sets of prosthetic legs with differing lengths – the shorter pair for use indoors and the longer pair for outdoors – the latter provided by German company, Endolite, costing Rs.13 lakhs providing the functionality of real limbs, replaceable after eight to ten years.

“We always ensured that Aspi gets the best. The investments of the funds collected have been planned in a way that will help him procure another set of limbs in the future as well,” said Dinshaw Tamboly, WZOT Chairman. Additionally, through the funds collected, WZOT will also provide Aspi an ably modified two-wheeler.

“I will be focusing on learning to walk independently by regular practice,” says Aspi who practices walking on the prosthetic limbs twice daily, for an hour. Aspi took his first steps on his full-prosthetic limbs forty-five days ago, at Endolite Center in Mahim, Mumbai with Senior Prosthetist and Orthotist, Abhinav Tripathi, who shared that no other patient had managed to complete forty rounds of practice on prosthetic limbs on the very first day of their utility, thus fuelling Aspi’s confidence! “With each passing day, I’m getting increasingly confident on these limbs, and if all goes well, I will participate in ‘Endolite’s Marathon’ next year,” says a motivated Aspi!

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The accident did create a sense of concern for Aspi as he had his two boys to raise – eleven-year-old Meher and eight-year-old Kayaan, who study at JN Petit Boarding School, Pune. “I’m so proud that my sons have been so brave about this. When they came to visit me, Meher tells me – ‘don’t worry dad, we are there for you. You have begun walking and that’s all that matters’. My kids are my real strength,” expresses a heartened Aspi.

After being discharged from hospital on 10^th January, 2018, Aspi returned to Navsari in a car provided by Zubin’s Royal Fleet. He will continue recuperating here over the next six to eight months. The FDU will continue paying his salary and Trustees of Ava Baug, the complex where Aspi resides on the third floor are trying to shift him to the ground floor for added convenience. On his recovery, Aspi plans to resume work at the Udvada museum in Udvada and will stay within the premises.

Such a strong chord has Aspi struck with the Community that he plans to serve as an inspiration to those who share similar tragedies and convincing them to not give up and take life head on, just as he has!

“Though I have received immense financial and personal assistance, I do not wish to sit back and rely solely on it. Once I get back on my feet and start working, I wish that WZOT makes use of these funds to help other needy Zarthustis in their hour of need,” says an inspiring Aspi