Dad is 'legs' for daughter
Father supports disabled daughter at uni - by moving onto campus
A hospital doctor has quit his medical career to be a 'runner' for his wheelchair-bound daughter while she studies at university.
Highly qualified anaesthetist Anand Pai, 60, has a room next door to his daughter Anuya at Leicester University.
He fetches her books from the library, runs her errands all over the campus and does everything to make the Sociology student's life run as smoothly as possible.
The dad and daughter team has proved such a success that former Shenley Brook End School pupil Anuya is already planning their next move – to America for a Masters degree.
"He is such a help to me and he has enabled me to really enjoy being a student. We have a very good relationship and I am lucky," said the 21-year-old, who has cerebral palsy.
Said Mr Pai: "I am happy to be here with Anuya as she pursues her education. I know how important this is to her and I have always been willing to provide whatever support is necessary in order for my daughter to achieve her ambitions in life."
Anuya, who wants to be a screenwriter to change people's pre-conceptions about disability, said the university was more than happy to accommodate her father.
"It was quite an unusual request, wanting to bring my dad with me, but they didn't seem to see any problem with it.
"The accommodation has an adjoining room so if I need my dad for anything in the middle of the night I can call him easily."
The pair travel back to their Shenley Church End home every weekend to see Anuya's mother, who is a paediatrician, and her two brothers, who are studying to be a doctor and a dentist respectively.
Dr Paula Dobrowolski, head of the university's AccessAbility Centre, told the Citizen: "It has been delightful to work with Anuya and her father."
Meanwhile Mr Pai, who went to university in India, has no hesitation about following his daughter to America – even if it means he will be too old to resume his impressive career at Milton Keynes Hospital.
"My children come first. I do not mind at all," he said.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 24 May 2012
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