Sujit when first discovered by Rotary Club of Suva Members (Photo credit:Alison Batlin)

On November 30th 2002, members of the Rotary Club of Suva visited the Old Peoples Home, where they saw Sujit Kumar for the first time. He was in a corner of the Home where he was tied to the wall at his bed, and an area of about 2 metres was his physical environment. This is virtually where he lived for 22 years. He would eat his food in a pecking fashion, from his mattress or from the floor. He would do his toilet in the same area, and was hosed down for bathing in this same area. He was so aggressive and hence the staff could not manage anything else.

For the next 6 months a member of the Rotary Club observed him, and bought overseas specialists in to visit him – a neurologist, a psychiatrist, special education teachers and counselors, to ascertain his condition. He was on carbonzine for epileptic seizures.

From July 1 2003, the Rotary Club of Suva commenced special care and rehabilitation for him. A full time caretaker was employed by the Club to work with Sujit on a behavioral modification programme. The programme commenced at 7am and went through to 3pm with fine and gross motor development activities. Personal habits such as toilet training, proper eating, and brushing teeth were also included in the programme. He is no longer tethered to his bed, and is enjoying this freedom.

Sujit progress particularly in his social and emotional development has been remarkable. As of Sept 1 2004, Sujit is living in a private home where his care and behavior can be more closely monitored.

As of Oct 1 2004, the Fiji School of Medicine has taken Sujit on as a case study. A different medication, Ethosuximide, has been prescribed with the hope that by controlling his small seizures, he will have an increased learning capacity. After being on this drug for some 16 days, we are still observing his behavior. He is suffering many of the side effects such as loss of appetite and often reverts to his previous aggressive behavior.

September 2003 – Sujit in the early days of learning Sujit working with Molly Drauna.

2005
The year Sujit became known to the world in the documentary ”Saving a Wild Boy”
Sujit took on a new form of independence - making choices on a daily basis about what he ate and what he did!

Saving a Wild Boy

Often it is not until you stop and look back that you see progress. From October 2004 Sujit began living in my home. He has found love and security for the first time in his life. More importantly he has also learnt to give love. This past year we have had so many blessings, so many new experiences that it is hard to keep up with the diary notes you see below.

What a smile!

As we teach Sujit new things I am reminded of the Bible verse in Isaiah, Chapter 28, verse 10: "Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there."

Patterning is a very crucial behaviour in Sujit's learning. An example of this is when Sujit got his banana and his plate and sits down and waits for you to peel it. Now he gets the plate then the banana, puts the banana on the plate and waits - this is great patterning behaviour which is so good because it shows me that he can pattern when it comes to toileting - that he will pull his pants down then go to the toilet then pull his pants up again, wash hands etc. At this stage, he is still going to the toilet and sitting down without pulling his pants down first, so we have to work with him on this 'patterning' exercise.

In this past year Sujit has discovered what a reflection is. He looks in the mirror and will see the reflection of myself looking at him. Then he turns his head and looks around at me. He is doing this more often as he especially likes the mirror and can sit for ages looking in it, often kissing himself. The mirror interaction is indicative of Sujit's move onto 'another level' - a level where he is recognising his own image - which a mirror in fact reflects. He obviously likes what he sees and will seek out mirrors just to see his own reflection, even to my small vanity mirror.

Sujit gives and takes a kiss.

Sujit knows very well now how to command attention from me, just as any toddler does - he is very loving towards me but can then get difficult if there is too much intrusion into our 'special' relationship', be it people coming to visit or even my working on the computer too much - he will come right up and sit himself on the keyboard, no words, just a big grin. So now for my diary notes:

Excerpts about Sujit from Elizabeth's diary notes since August 2005:

19/08/05: Sujit continues to do things - yesterday at church, he loves the music but as soon as worship is over he is up and out and would rather be with the Deacons at the back of the church or go back and wait in the car. We are now on a very firm discipline regime with him as he is just being a toddler at times with his exerting his will in the wrong direction. I met with his carers this morning and we must decide what we are to do to maintain consistency in our discipline. He is so much more 'knowing' these days - it is hard as we have to remember that
he is a toddler/man going through the formative years again but being socialised as a human being this time around, rather than as a chicken.

24/08/05: Sujit is so very loving with me and just comes for hugs and kisses all the time. He is getting so much more relaxed and his face is changing with so much peace upon it. This 'love' thing is just so amazing. I really should have a little movie camera to shoot stuff as Sujit is changing so rapidly. This week since I have been back he has been so happy and really attentive.

27/08/05: This week Sujit has been the best he has ever been! He keeps on coming over to me for a hug and has had a perpetual smile on his face. I know he recognises me as his main caregiver as he continually has his eyes on me and will start 'doing things' when I am not giving him the attention he desires. He makes me laugh! It is such a joy for me.

04/09/05: The first time Sujit went to the pantry, took the lid off the biscuit tin, and then ate the biscuit.

14/09/05: Sujit is just at the 'looking' stage with the Wendy Pye “Magic Box” tapes. He has the concentration of a three year old but the books are his favourite - he is just getting to realise what a book is - that the pages turn!

25/09/05: For the first time Sujit became aware of Charlie our King Charles Spaniel dog. Sujit accidentally walked into Charlie who then growled and wouldn’t let him the through the door. Sujit didn’t know what to do. He had to confront a problem – how could he get through the door past Charlie?

02/10/05: Some friends came for lunch. Sujit offered a girl some pineapple. She didn’t want the pineapple and this made Sujit a bit cross.

09/10/05: Sujit was very pleased to see me after we returned from our time with friends in the Yasawas Islands - he just knows my every move. When I get dressed up to go out now, he starts heading for the door in order to tag along too!

12/10/05: Sujit - he definitely knows the difference between right and wrong. Last night we were all eating fruit cake and I got talking to my brother and without noticing, Sujit had finished his piece and decided he wanted more so went right behind my back to take another piece and just at that time, I turned around and he withdrew his hand from the piece with a big grin on his face! He will laugh with me now, so is starting to imitate which is so wonderful to see. On Monday it was a public holiday here so I took Simon Peter and Sujit out for a picnic. We went into the shallow water, knee deep, and walked about half a km. As we were walking I started to spray splash Sujit, and before too long he started to spray splash me back – another great example of imitating. So he has started to learn my imitation – such an excellent move forward. Mind you he is not imitating all our 'proper' behaviour, but hopefully he will start imitating more and more - he has imitated behaviour before - unfortunately it was chicken behaviour. He refuses to go to bed until SP goes to bed, and then he will go down no sweat! A new activity, which I might have mentioned already, is that he loves to finger paint. We put paper on the wall and give him a couple of colours and he just stands there and paints, first splashing the paint on and then using his full hand to spread the paint. I do wish that I could get this on film as you can see the joy on his face when he is involved with this painting activity. I haven't even got my digital camera right now so it is a pity. Yes, he still gets a move on to the door when he sees me getting dressed and ready to leave as he loves coming out in the car. Sujit is unique and it will be interesting to see how far he can go. He is being very naughty to-day, choosing to be most un-cooperative because we are all very busy working on repairs to my building - my brother leaves tomorrow so we can be back to normal!

15/10/05: Sujit has been absolutely a charm today. He has been following me around from room to room, coming to sit on my desk as I use the computer, goes to the kitchen, finds a plate, puts it in 'his place' and then gets a banana and puts it on his plate ready for me to help him peel it! He has been making a lot of sound to-day, nothing constructive but good sound and he seems to know it has an effect as I turned around to look at him when he made the sound, then turned away so he made the sound again to get my attention. Very interesting - you see there is something new everyday. Early this morning I planned to walk with SP to get the newspapers, so we all went downstairs. Sujit was very excited but when he realised we were going to be WALKING instead of taking the car, he started to exert his will and walked very reluctantly then didn't want to walk any further. When I said 'do you want to go by CAR' and pointed to the car which was around 100 metres away by this, he just grinned, turned around and we walked happily back to the car and got in. Sujit definitely now knows what he wants - and what he doesn't want!! Did I tell you he turned on a tap by himself the other day? SP and I pray in agreement for him everyday that he will be more and more like us. We have the faith that he will be healed of the damage his traumatic environment has had on him.

16/10/05: This morning I was lying in bed - first SP came in and sat with me then Sujit came in and sat with me, then proceeded to pile things on me that he could find around the room. It was very funny as he has never done this before. Each thing he would put on me he would laugh and then go find something else to pile on me. I had SP take a photo.

November 2005 - Sujit piling things on top of me

How interesting it is to observe someone like Sujit who is almost completely unsocialised/raw but he is making an unsophisticated attempt to develop relationships with those around him. We are taught from an early age how to interact appropriately but he hasn't been taught this so piling things on me this morning is HIS way, like following me around from room to room (like a duck after its mother!), like sitting on my desk while I use the computer, and like getting right into my face to get eye contact, and so it goes on. Really makes me laugh but it is so interesting to observe this very raw behaviour and is indicative of the need for closeness to another human being - as if we are really hard-wired. It is a very special experience for me

Joe, Ana, (Sujit’s daily caregivers) Sujit, Navi and Eleni.

17/10/05: Sujit is progressing before my very eyes and at times one really think ahead as to how to handle this 'new kid’. He is exerting his independence so much and he seems to be trying very hard to communicate non-verbally - unfortunately when he doesn't want something it is usually a dramatic NO - something I have to find a suitable way of 'curbing'. He loves his morning gross motor activities but not so keen on 'school' except for a few activities like finger painting so we are going to have to work out how we can do the fine motor development exercises (much needed for brain development - as a the gross motor activities) so he enjoys, but is challenged by all the activities.

Elizabeth, Sujit, Ana and friends

05/11/05: The funniest of this week was the way Sujit ran toward me when he was coming back after playing in the field across the road and down the street abet - he was so fast and lifting his knees up high as he ran with a big grin on his face. Linda witnessed this but alas she did not have her camera on him. He is happiest when he is around me - preferably alone with my undivided attention. Simon Peter is so sweet about Sujit's need to have my attention and is prepared to wait until Sujit goes to bed before he settles down with me on the sofa, for a chat about the day's events or to read a book. SP is the sweetest, caring child I have ever known!

Simon Peter and Charlie

19/11/05: The day Sujit cried for the first time.
I am trying to keep off the computer this weekend to spend time with the boys. Ana and Joe don't work on the weekend. Simon Peter is sitting next to me and he is reading what I am writing and he thinks his reading is getting much better. He is going to put some words in his dictionary after this from a letter that Aunty Pauline wrote to him. My printer wasn't working and SP managed to find out what the problem is, so he is more than a pretty little face. He is such a big help to me. We had a big problem with our darling Sujit this morning. I had put some cream on his body as he had a rash. Unfortunately, he rubbed it and then sadly he got some of it in his eyes, so we had to wash his eyes with water and then put drops in them. It must have hurt so much that he was sobbing, in a real, normal cry and making much sound - which I had never heard before - so it wasn't an emotional cry but a cry of pain. It was interesting that he could be comforted and somehow understood that all that I was trying to do for him, eased the pain. At first he struggled when I tried to put eye drops in his eyes as I think he thought we were going to put more 'nasty stuff' in his eyes, rather than drops to make it better. But then finally he realised that this was easing his pain. SP was a big, big help to me. Sujit is fine now and laughing and loving us (but sleeping right now!) This boy has had to suffer in silence all these years so perhaps now he is finding a way to express his distress. The reason a baby is able to cry out and be heard is as a form of protection. Sujit has never had this protection, or so it seems.

He is starting to show his emotions very clearly now - this is another story, where love, anger, jealousy, mischievous behaviour is coming out in a more normal kind of way.

20/11/05: Sujit is just learning colours now - sort of. He continues to love his finger painting. In fact he wants to paint everything now - with water. As soon as he sees water - he gets his fingers wet and 'paints' anything around!

November 2005 – Deepak Rathod watches Sujit finger-painting.

27/11/05: Both boys are resting right now. We had the most beautiful day yesterday with my niece, her friends and a guy that works for her. So the seven of us swam in the pool. Sujit enjoyed it as you saw in the documentary “Saving a Wild Boy”. Then we sat and talked. Sujit was so good, being friendly and smiling to everyone, coming and sitting on my lap etc. It is so hard to catch these experiences (unless you are hot-shot Linda Gollan) as when I reach for the camera - the mood changes somewhat. It is great however to have the video camera nearby and we were able to get something recorded. (Sony NZ kindly donated a digital video camera so that I wouldn’t miss recording Sujit’s progress.)

We are off to church very soon but I am just enjoying the quiet moment so will go now and do some reading.

05/12/05: A special day today! Sujit was invited to the Prime Minister’s Prayer Breakfast.

Monday 5th December 2005: Elizabeth and Sujit with Fijian Prime Minister Hon. Laisenia Qarase

08/12/05: Sujit kisses Elizabeth for the first time.

I am bursting up here in Fiji land!! Every time I open an email I burst into boo hoos! The generosity (in response to PROJECT HAPPY HOME’ ) is overwhelming - the trust people have. But we know we serve a big God and He is just demonstrating a little of His power to be in control of all things, even the hairs on our head and the tears that fall down our cheeks! Far out - such an awesome road we are all on.

Sujit gave me a big kiss on the cheek yesterday! - He usually kisses himself in the mirror but yesterday it was MY turn!! He has been very mischievous and has definitely claimed a huge part of the hearts of those he meets.

Sujit is totally IN LOVE - or so it seems - must be such a wonderful feeling for him to know that he is totally in a safe and loving environment. He gets excited now and chases - literally runs after me, down the street or wherever, so much so that I have to watch out for him coming! Of course he doesn't do it on cue and never when the camera is rolling but Simon Peter, Joe, Ana and I share these lovely, wonderful experiences with this very raw man-child. We all love him very much - and he now knows it!

12/12/05:
Yesterday at church he did not want to go into church so he sat down on the ground and just refused to get up. I then said, "Would you like to sit in the van?" He promptly got up and walked nicely over to the van and got in.

Again I had to discipline him at home for pushing his food away (as he shouldn't do) - he waited awhile and then wanted to come and sit on my knee - he was sorry!!

25/12/05 - Christmas Day:

We had a very quiet Christmas just visiting friends that we have made over the past year. It was difficult taking our Christmas photos as all Sujit wanted to do was play with Simon Peter. It is wonderful to see how these two boys have become such great 'mates' - Sujit seems to adore Simon Peter and will respond very well to him with big grins and reaching out at him. Ana and Joe took the time off to be with their families so it was just the three of us.

The three of us - Christmas 2005.Taking photos with the timer is not easy but lots of fun

We are so looking forward to January which will be a hectic month because of the refurbishment of 17 Richards Rd - ‘PROJECT HAPPY HOME’ .We are having lots of rest as we know it is going to be so busy with so many wonderful people coming in from abroad to help fix up this house and get it ready for the boys to move in. All the plans have been set, so now it is just go, go, go!

Elizabeth and Simon Peter	“Great mates”- Sujit and Simon Peter.