Malati Shah had been suffering from acute Ankylosing Spondylitis since 6 years without any treatment for the want of money and care. Her old and indigent parents helplessly witnessed her worsening condition. Disease had calcified her knees, fused her hip joints and spine, and made her immovable, like a rigid bamboo. If it was left untreated, she would die of ribs calcification sooner or later!!!When I first learnt about her plight, I went numb. I felt strongly to do something about it. I decided to do my mite to better her life. I consulted doctors and inquired about treatments, hospitals and expenses. Dr C B Prabhu, an eminent orthopaedic surgeon, had agreed to treat her by performing Total Hip Replacement surgeries followed by aggressive physiotherapy sessions. It required approx. 6 lakhs INR!!!I haven’t had so much money. Then I approached my friends, cousins, acquaintance, my company CSR team SAPPORT to allow me to raise funds within office. I contacted some NGOs and also asked my friends working elsewhere to drive the fund raising initiative in their respective offices. I explained the gravity of situation and discussed the urgent need to raise funds from almost everyone know to me or known to my KNOWNS. I have reached out to as many people as possible requesting them to spread a word for immediate help. Everyone drove the cause strongly by taking the commendable lead. My office responded strongly. Donations, prayers and wishes started coming in from every corner. I kept getting cheques and letter from diverse places and from people across the world. I was overwhelmed by people’s timely concern, thoughtfulness, love in action and their belief in me.She underwent two major operations over a period of 6 days. Doctors were elated at her body’s response to the treatment and told that her recovery was remarkable. A week after surgery, Malati stood for the first time without anybody’s support after six years. She was all smiles and tears and was lost for words. While thank you word was more often in her speech, it was not less than a movie scene to see someone stepping down after 6 years. It was truly a fulfilling moment for all our collective effort.After 27 days of transformation in hospital, she walked her way back into life breaking the excruciating spell of diseased fate. She was discharged with elbow crutches. She must come for check up every two months for one year and further on twice a year for 2 years. Whatever money we are left with after paying all the expenses for surgery, hospitalization, medicines, transportation, communication, consulting, ongoing physiotherapy sessions, care-taker charges and miscellaneous, we have decided to give it to her for further requirements.
At present she is at her home in Calcutta. Doctors from there are guided by Dr Prabhu about the medications and daily physiotherapy sessions. She is able to sit, climb up and down the stairs without anybody’s support!! She can walk with the help of a tripod stick. Doctor tells that gradually, in another 30 days, she will become normal and will walk without any support.
I am grateful to each and everyone for their timely help and amazing support! I really cannot thank enough. It was an incredible concerted effort in my life. It was indeed great to have discovered so many friends in the process. First of all, I am especially grateful to Krishna Mohan and Suman, who did more than one can expect and believe and stood by me. I also would like to convey my heartfelt thanks Rajendranath Avvari (CA), Richard Franklin (Infosys), Gautam Chakravarthy (AOL), Harish Nekkanti (TCS), (SAP):Rathish Balakrishnan, Archana Sahay, Haresh Patel, Potluri Ramakrishna, Deepika Bhagath, Kripa Rangachari; (US):Vineel, Suma Lakshmi, Uday (HP), Karthik Naidu(NICE). And my special thanks to Mr & Ms MI Murgodi from Vasco da Gama, Goa.
