Army doctor helps Kathua boy find his voice after 8 years

Kathua, Aug 16: For eight years, Akshay Sharma, a young boy from a poor family in the Duggan area of the Kathua district, lived in silence.

Born with a cleft lip and palate, he underwent surgery at the age of three but still could not speak. His parents, struggling with poverty and unable to afford treatment, had almost lost hope of ever hearing their son’s voice.

Everything changed when an army doctor, Captain Saurabh Salunkhe, serving in the area, came across Akshay.

Moved by the family’s struggle, he carried out basic check-ups and found that with proper therapy, the boy could learn to talk.

Since no such facilities were available in the remote village, the officer studied speech therapy techniques himself and began working with Akshay in his free time.

Patiently, he taught him sounds, then words, and finally simple sentences. After months of practice, Akshay began to speak with growing confidence.

The first time he called his parents, their eyes welled with tears. For them, it was not just a sound – it was a miracle.

A dream they had buried deep in their hearts had come alive. Their home, once filled with silent prayers, now echoed with Akshay’s joyful chatter.

“What began as one soldier’s act of kindness has touched an entire community. The army doctor’s compassion has left a lasting mark in Duggan, reminding all that the army not only guards the borders but also heals hearts and, in the most unexpected moments, brings hope where it is needed most,” said PRO Defence Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, while commending Captain Salunkhe’s commitment and delineating the bond of compassion the army shared with the civilians.