Rikko graduates

A grateful Rantun Devi writes on the occasion of his son Rikko’s graduation from university in 2019:

“We want to thank all the members of Forest Hill Rotary Club and of ROMAC who helped give Rikko the chance to have a normal life and be the healthy man he is now.”

In 2003, Rikko was a hole-in-the-heart patient flown from Bali by ROMAC for surgery performed by Dr Christian Brizard at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. In 2019, he graduated with a Bachelor degree S.com (IT).

“It's meant a lot, such that we and our family cannot describe our feeling,” Rantun writes. “It's all thanks to your helping hand.”

“If you all had not helped my little Rikko, we are not sure that today we would see him in cap and gown. It still feels unbelievable.

“From when Rikko was born, we noticed after two months about the sickness and when the doctor described his condition, every word the doctor said sliced our heart as parents so painfully.

“Back then, when Rikko laughed and happily played it brought us to tears as we were not sure of his future if he did not get medical attention. He was too young to understand and it worried us as we imagined the day we had to explain to him about his sickness.”

Four-year-old Rikko was met at Melbourne Airport by Forest Hill Rotary Club member Ron Brooks and Salvation Army Major Kevin Grigsbey. Rantun expressed thanks to Kevin and Lynne Grigsbey for hosting the family while Rikko was in hospital.

He also recalls being shown Melbourne by tram by Bob Laslett and his wife, and meeting many kind people at the Salvation Army church.

“The district governor of Rotary gave us the seed of love. And It's grown in our heart,” he writes.

“For all the people in Rotary and I'm sure there's a lot of others we don't know, even if we sat at a dinner table with them, so I feel I can't thank you all enough.

“It’s meant a lot for Rikko as he is now a normal person, and we as parents do not worry any more. Thank you very much for everything and please keep sowing the seeds of love to give HOPE.

“We pray to God to bless all of you.”