Eight-year-old Kaleem has always been bullied because of his gigantic hands. Each hand weighs more than 8kgs and is over 13 inches long.
Kaleem’s hands were big after birth and have continued to grow bigger. This is because he suffers from a mysterious, undiagnosed disorder. The gigantic hands prevent him from completing tasks such as feeding and dressing himself.
“When Kaleem was born, his hands were big and his fingers were long. His hands were twice the size of a normal baby,” said Haleema, Kaleem’s mother.
Kaleem’s parents have continued to watch helplessly as their son continues to suffer. Kaleem’s father Shamim, works as a labourer and earns only £15 per month. Being unable to help his son has been his biggest heartache.
“If I had money I would have taken him to a doctor. He complains of stomach aches and says his head is spinning. I cannot get those things checked because I don’t have the money,” Kaleem’s father said.
“He has difficulty feeding himself because his fists don’t bend properly, so we have to feed him.”
Kaleem was taken to a local hospital in India and Dr Ratan said there was no documentation of similar cases in medical journals or on the internet.
“This is an extremely rare case of acromegaly, which is a thyroid related issue. But we can say it is a hormonal problem because that is when hands and feet can be enlarged, lips can be swollen and even ears can be bigger than usual,” Dr Ratan said.
The 8-year-old does not attend school because his unique appearances make him get bullied. Other children are also scared of his hands.
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“I do not go to school because the teacher says other children are scared of my hands. Many people bully me for my deformity. They say, let’s beat up the kid with big hands” Kaleem revealed.
Kaleem’s father has tried to seek help from several places but his efforts have been futile. He hopes that one day a miracle will happen in the form of a kind stranger.
“If someone came forward and offered help I would feel God had come down from heaven. I’ve asked everyone if they can help out a poor man like me and provide enough resources to treat my unfortunate son so he can have a normal life,” he said.
