Medical Help

Sameer’s Webbed Hand Operated

Sameer, 6 years, was born in Bijapur, Karnataka with webbed fingers, a condition also known as Syndactyly. It is a medical condition characterized by the incomplete separation or union of two or more fingers and involves skin webbing between the fingers. In Sameer’s case, all the fingers of his left hand were joined out toward their tips. A corrective or reconstructive surgery had to be performed to repair the webbed fingers as the fingers would grow in a progressively worsening bend over time and the repair surgery would also improve the appearance of his hand.

Sameer comes from a poor family of 5 who had migrated to Goa in search of employment and better life. His father, who is an alcoholic, works as a labourer and his mother works as a maid to support her family. Being poor, they did not have the funds to get the surgery done. However, our field workers identified the need and we immediately raised funds to get the first surgery completed. On 2nd May 2011 Sameer successfully underwent the reconstructive surgery for his thumb and the middle finger which was done by Dr. Manish Patel at Nusi-Wockhardt Hospital in Cuncolim. Presently Sameer is staying at our Stepping Stones Day Care & Night Shelter. Sameer’s fingers show swelling and bruising which is normal after surgery. Medications are being given from time to time and regular dressing is done. Bandages are kept clean and dry to ensure proper healing and protection.

According to Dr. Manish Patel the second surgery would be conducted on the index and the ring fingers after Sameer shows considerable improvement which would be in about 2 months time. The surgery might cost approximately Rs. 50,000/-. We request kind hearted persons to donate generously towards medical expenses for Sameer. Sameer’s profile may be requested by sending an email to the Sponsorship Incharge, Maria Fernandes (mariaf@childrescue.net).

Thank You!

A Hand for Vipul

Vipul Rai, all of 10 years of age, is the younger son of Karma & Laukha Rai and was born in a remote village of West Bengal. Coming from a farmers’ family, his parents found it quite hard to make ends meet. They were living in a small hut, furnished to the barest minimum. The evening’s were spent in the light of the kerosene lamp as they had no electricity.

On the fateful day, soon after Vipul turned 3, tragedy struck the home. Vipul was alone at home, playing, when he inadvertently overturned the kerosene lamp and caught fire. He was immediately rushed to the Government Hospital by the neighbours, but the doctors were helpless and Vipul lost the use of his right hand.

Due to acute poverty and with the hope of a better life, the family moved to Goa and are now located in a slum in Margao. Karma works at a construction site and supports his family with his meager income. His elder brother, Viplo studies in class 9 in a local school.

UPDATE: We are happy to report Vipul is doing extremely well following his serious operation in Apollo Hospital Margao. He is still receiving special care but hopefully will be discharged on Saturday. He will go to the hospital as an Outpatient for dressings . In two month time his intensive physiotherapy treatment starts.

I would like to thank all concerned who have contributed in many different ways.

God bless you

Anita and Matthew

El Shaddai would like to help Vipul and others like him lead better and more enriching lives. If you would like to help us help them, please donate towards our Emergency Healthcare Fund.

NEED HELP!

Swati, wife of Rama Naik and the mother of 5 children was introduced to us by Pastor Kumar. Swati’s Husband used to doubt her of having extramarital affairs and would beat and abuse her constantly after getting drunk, he would also beat the children frequently. Due to his abusive behaviour, Swati once tried committing suicide by pouring kerosene on her body and burnt herself in order to prove that she was innocent. Though she was rescued and taken to the hospital, Swati suffered from severe burn injuries especially on her chest. Even after the incident, Swati’s husband did not stop his abusive behaviours and when she was discharged from the hospital he started to beat and molest her again. He later threw Swati and

her children out of his house. Swati along with her children started residing with her parents. Her parents are also financially poor and cannot support them for long. Swati now works as a house maid to support her family but cannot manage to do hard jobs. The income earned by Swati is very less and insufficient to look after her five children. As she came to us for help, three of Swati’s children were quickly admitted into our Homes but two of them returned back as they wished to stay with their mother.

Unfortunately Swati has suffered from deep burn injuries due to which the damage caused is permanent. The tissues involved in the burnt area do not allow the skin to return to normal functioning. The burnt skin on her chest obstructs sufficient motion of the chest wall to allow adequate breathing to occur. The scars on her chest give her tremendous pain at times which hampers her from doing her day to day jobs. The scars also produce unwanted fluid like pus due to infection. The medication, treatment and the reconstructive surgery requires time and money that will cost around Rs. 40,000/- which is unaffordable for Swati and a reason to neglect her misery. In order to avoid further suffering.

El Shaddai would like to extend a helping hand to Swati and support her medical treatment and plastic surgery so that she can live a normal life. We have many more medical cases which are yet to be attended to, and we will be unable to assist them without the help & support of our kind-hearted Sponsors.

Update:

Due to the deep burn injuries, the tissues involved in the burn area did not allow the skin to return to function normally. The skin on the chest obstructed sufficient motion of the chest wall leading to breathing difficulties. The scars on her chest gave her tremendous pain which hampered her from doing day-to-day chores. The scars also produced pus due to infection. However, El Shaddai arranged for her to have a reconstructive surgery done and now she is recovering from the same. El Shaddai bore all the medical and other expenditures for the time she was in hospital undergoing treatment. El Shaddai would like to thank Dilshad Meghani and her friends for raising the necessary fund to give a new lease of life to Swati.

* Names changed to protect identity

TEARY GOODBYE

Five year old, Soman* was admitted to the House of Norma on 9th August 2010 as he was suffering from HIV. His father was a chronic alcoholic and chain smoker, who died of a terrible lung infection when Soman was just a baby living in Maharashtra. His mother was left to shoulder the responsibility of little Soman & his sister and so moved to Goa to work as a daily wage labourer and live on the streets.

A kind hearted person employed her as a maid and also offered her a place to stay with her two kids. While there, it was discovered that Soman was suffering from HIV and as the mother was unable to bear the expenses of providing special care she, along with her employer, visited El Shaddai

After understanding their difficulties, Soman was quickly admitted to our Children’s Hospice, The House of Norma and welcomed into a loving home which offered him the required medication, comfort, companionship and nourishing food, etc. He soon got adjusted with everyone and was everybody’s darling in the home.

On 20th October 2010 at around 9.30 a.m. Soman fell unconscious; he was immediately rushed to the nearby Asilo Hospital in Mapusa and later to GMC hospital in Bambolim and was kept in Intensive Care Unit. Soman was in a coma and there was no sign of improvement in his state. The doctors tried to bring him back, but finally had to give up. Alas! Soman breathed his last on the night of 22nd October 2010. Apparently, he had suffered from a major cerebral haemorrhage.

And although Soman was with us only for a short time, we hope that we made a difference to his young life, if only a little. The El Shaddai Family deeply mourns the loss of young and adorable Soman. May his soul rest in peace!

*Name changed to protect identity

NAGAMMA AND HER NEW SMILE!

Nagamma Fasale has been coming to our Little Acorns Shelter in Calangute since she was 9 years old. She was born and brought up in the state of Maharashtra. Her family migrated to Goa in search of employment. Nagamma, has three sisters. Her family encountered one of our field workers, who influenced the mother to send the girls at our Shelter at Little Acorns. She speaks Kannada Marathi and Hindi. Her father was an alcoholic and worked as a daily wage labourer in a cement shop in Calangute. Due to heavy drinking he died of a liver damage. They live in a small rented room in Calangute with their mother. After her father’s death her mother had to bear the family responsibility all alone. Her mother has an eye defect but works as a house maid to support her family. Due to her low income she has to struggle every month to pay the room rent. Besides she also has to look after the basic requirements and education of her children.

Nagamma and her sisters attended the Little Acorns Shelter in Calangute on a regular basis. Her mother was finding it very difficult to look after her children and came to us for help. Two of Nagamma’s younger sisters were quickly admitted into one of our Homes. Nagamma and her other sister assist their mother at Home and also attend the school. They presently attend the Little Acorns Shelter and avail the day care benefits. We are helping and supporting the ongoing treatment and surgery of Nagamma’s Cleft Palate & Cleft Lip.

Problem Area: Cleft Palate & Cleft Lip.

Nagamma had a severe harelip condition which was not a very pleasant sight to behold and she could not speak as she was missing a large part of her upper lip. Being a girl child it was an added disadvantage. Due to the financial status Nagamma’s condition was neglected for many years. She had absolutely no friends. Our fieldworker found her in the slums and encouraged her to come to the shelter. Her life changed the day she stepped into Little Acorns. The other children accepted her as she was and the Incharge there took it as a personal challenge to treat Nagamma and give her a normal face. Three surgical procedures later she now has a face of an angel. She needs to undergo a final surgery which will complete the process started by EL Shaddai. Dr. Ajith Kadam generously waived away his fee and El Shaadai has borne all the medicines and hospital Charges. She also underwent therapy to enable her to speak clearly, the therapy enhanced her speech and confidence as well. Dr Pascal Pinto also treated Nagamma’s teeth and fitting of the braces for her teeth. She attended a number of dental appointments at Pinto Dental. We are thankful to Dr Pascal Pinto who did not charge for his consultations and treatment except for the medicines and other requirements which was borne by El Shaddai. Nagamma is currently under treatment and is awaiting her final plastic surgery which will give her a new look.
Nagamma is well behaved and understands quickly. She likes to make friends, watch television and play carom.
Indeed, this is a testimony of the true grit of a young girl and the support of El SHADDAI...of its Loving, Caring and Sharing attitude!!