Heryanto leaves Bandung Hospital

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java

Heryanto, the elementary school student who attempted suicide two months ago, was transferred from Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung to a hospital in his hometown of Garut on Monday.

Eliana Sungkar, one of the doctors who treated Heryanto at Hasan Sadikin, said the transfer was made possible by improvements in the boy's condition.

After two months of medical treatment, Heryanto is now able to talk and feed himself, although he cannot walk without assistance. He can remember the names of his parents and his sister Restu, although he must be prompted to say them.

The doctor said 12-year-old Heryanto would require additional therapy at the Slamet Hospital in Garut, including speech therapy and physiotherapy.

Despite improvements in Heryanto's condition, Eliana said it was unlikely that the boy would fully recover as he suffered from brain damage.

Heryanto's discharge caused a commotion at the hospital on Monday. The boy was helped into a wheelchair by his parents under the intense gaze of the media.

Heryanto's eyes glistened with tears when the president director of the hospital, Cissy Rachiana Sudjana, told him he would be returned to his hometown.

Heryanto, accompanied by several doctors from Hasan Sadikin Hospital was taken in an ambulance to Slamet Hospital.

Suryana, Heryanto's father, said he was pleased his son would be hospitalized so close to their house in Garut.

He said that after Heryanto had completed his therapy at Slamet Hospital he would register him at a nearby school for disabled children.

Heryanto's Uncle Haris said the family was not concerned by the school fees following the public's show of support for the boy.

He said that several community leaders, including Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono, had also promised to help pay for Heryanto's education.

Heryanto, who was a student of the Muara Sanding elementary school in the West Java town of Garut, attempted suicide on Aug. 22 by hanging himself with a cable.

He was reportedly distraught because one of his teachers had asked him to contribute Rp 2,500 (30 US cents) for the purchase of school equipment, but his parents could not afford the money.

Cissy of Hasan Sadikin Hospital said Heryanto's family would receive some Rp 28 million (US$3,500) from domestic and foreign donors.

She said the donations actually amounted to Rp 51.7 million, but some of the money had been used by the hospital to buy medicine and equipment for Heryanto's treatment.

She added that the hospital did not charge the family a room fee nor other service fees.