Jammu, Aug. 17 -- After eight years of silence, eight-year-old Akshay Sharma from a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district has finally found his voice, thanks to the efforts of an Army doctor. Born with a cleft lip and palate, Akshay underwent a surgery at the age of three but was still unable to speak.
His parents, who work as civilian labourers with the Indian Army, could not afford further treatment and had almost given up hope of hearing their son speak.
"Their hope was revived when Captain Saurabh Salunkhe, an Army doctor serving in the area, met Akshay," defence PRO Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal said.
After examining Akshay, Salunkhe realised that with proper speech therapy, the boy could find his voice.
Since no such ...