Four Children of Retired Policeman Paralyzed

VIVAnews – Four out of five children of a retired police officer First Sub-Lieutenant (Ret.) Sahirun and Warsini are paralyzed. It all began in 2005 when the father who had no money was forced to take his family to an old pig den. 

Suddenly, his children become paralyzed, one by one. They are Musiaroh (36), Amin Muntoha (35), Musinah (27), and Riyatin (25). Meanwhile Kiswanto (30) who lived with other people was not affected. 

Based on previous medical examination, the disability was caused by a genetic disorder. 

A neurosurgeon of Margono Sukaryo Hospital in Purwokerto, dr Untung Gunarso, said the four people had been admitted to the hospital.  

“Based on the diagnosis, they suffer from muscle atrophy,” he told VIVAnews, on Thursday. 

The four siblings were then taken to Kariadi Hospital in Semarang. They even had their blood samples sent to Europe to be studied in a laboratory. It is concluded that the four siblings have a genetic disorder or Friedreich's ataxia syndrome.

This type of illness usually attacks 15-year-old adolescents, and may worsen when the patient reaches the age of 22.  

“So, in relation with the allegation of a virus attack caused by their former residence with their parents in an old pig den, it’s still uncertain yet,” he said. 

The type of disease can be easily found in many regions of Europe. Untung was unable to speculate of why the siblings contracted this illness.  “Was this family a descendant of Dutch people during the colonial period? It’s still unknown,” he said. 

Based on the conclusion, the abnormality cannot be cured. To help the four siblings, Margono Hospital could only rehabilitate and train certain muscles to enable them to move their limbs.  

Another obstacle is that the hospital required the four siblings to own a Jamkesmas card, not just a Jamkesda card. 

The case of paralysis of four children of a retired police officer resurfaced after their mother passed away last month. As a result, the father’s retirement fund that was usually used to support their daily needs, is cut off. 

The four siblings tried to support themselves. Amin Muntoha produces traditional puppets of used cardboard that he sells at schools. Meanwhile, his three sisters would earn money from making embroidery.  

Now, their lives depend on Kiswanto, the third sibling, the only one who’s not paralyzed, and also help from others. They even wanted to sell the house granted by the Central Java Police Department.