Heryanto leaves Bandung Hospital

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.