And I can pick up a pen now

Tragedies leave a person helpless, paralysed and hopeless in life. All it takes a small act of kindness and hope to kick start life. Here is an inspiring of story of young Nayanafrom Khemda, District- ChhotaUdepurwho got a second shot of life by Kaka-Ba to overcome disability and become the master of her own destiny.

“My parents are seasonal laborers. I am their fourth child. They work on construction sites all year round except for the sowing and harvesting season when they work in farms where work is strenuous but well paid. My elder brother took care of me and my siblings when our parents were away at work. I was almost a year old when one day my parents left for cultivation work in a neighboring village. My elder brother was taking a bath and I got up early. I could barely walk at that age and moved towards the fire side, possibly attracted by the red hot coals, and reached for the fire-dog. The heat startled me and I ended up falling down into the fireplace. Unable to get up, I started wailing.  A passer-by rushed in and rescued me. He poured water on me and called my neighbors who then applied cream and curd on me to soothe the burns. They took me to a nearby private clinic and informed my parents about the tragedy.

I was scalded badly on my face, neck and both the palms. After a couple of months of treatment that cost my parents almost two months of earnings, I had dark scars on my face and my hands were like knobs with the fingers stuck permanently to the palms.  As I grew up, my helplessness to perform daily routine activities became a cause of misery for me and my family. I was handicapped, yet I started extending support in the household work. Around the age of five, I was admitted into Shri Ashram Shala at Vaguma village of Nasavadi district. I had learned to accept my hardship and concentrated on my education. Ofcourse, I could not write my homework or participate in competitions and games. Though all my friends made me feel loved, my disability constantly affected my state of mind.

At age nine, I was in fourth standard when there was a health camp in our AsharamShala organized by JeevanAkshay Charitable Trust of Vadodara. After a checkup I was advised to go to Kaka-Ba Hospital at Hansot. My teacher GaneshbhaiRathava took me to the hospital and after an examination I was given a date for the surgery. Ganesh sir then informed my parents about the surgery and took their consent. I got one hand operated upon first, to not interrupt my studies, and then later the second hand.  During our stay, my parents were treated well by the hospital team and provided guidance, medicines, food, accommodation, etc.  I am eternally grateful to Cadila and Kaka-Ba Hospital for extending such selfless and noble support to the poor and needy like us. Even if we would have tried to get my deformities treated on our own, I am sure it would have been far beyond our means.

After a week or so, when I removed the bandages, for the first time I saw my full palm. The first thing I did was to pick up a pen and write my name. My fingers are still stiff and hard to fold but I can touch and pick things up slowly. There are no lines on my palm. But who cares?

I will design and write my destiny my own way.”