Sunday February 9th
Another busy day. Read on…
Vinitha and Arjun
Vinitha has blood cancer and has received chemotherapy for a few years. Her hair has grown back, and she doesn’t look poorly but she is still on medication. Her 10-year-old son, Arjun, has also been diagnosed with blood cancer and he is hoping to start chemotherapy next month.
Because there is a lengthy process in India where people are assessed as to whether they can pay for their cancer treatment or not, it was thought that HHI could help in the meantime. On Wednesday Vinitha will have the details of the medication costs etc and these will be brought to Happy Valley for us to consider. Vinitha’s husband is a plumber, and she has one other older son who is not affected by cancer.
Vinitha and Arjun
Madhu Aruvikkara
On our way to Thanal House we came across a 56-year-old gentleman, Madhu, with a significant lymphatic problem on his left leg. He had been bitten by a viper 9 years ago and since then things had gone from bad to worse. He attends the hospital in Trivandrum for pain medication – paracetamol. Madhu said he would like to have an amputation. Madhu’s son contacted Phillip saying that they would ask the Doctors for an amputation in March. Phillip and I confirmed that HHI would cover the cost of an artificial limb. We look forward to a successful outcome.
Madhu Aruvikkara
Thanal House
We were greeted with smiles by Salini and her husband Shanil, their two children Chrissie and Christo as well as by Salini’s mother.
The front of the Thanal building is looking good with plants, tiled flooring, a large table and seating area. We greeted the residential ladies who were seated around the tables in their matching outfits. One lady in particular, Jennifer, recalled that I had visited previously and that I have a daughter also named Jennifer. We gave the ladies cake and soft drinks and Salini was keen to ask about Ron, Eddy, Donald and Kath who visited in 2020.
I was impressed with their toothbrushing naming system especially since toothbrushes were purchased for Shibu’s patients yesterday.
Salini and family
Toothbrushes for ladies at Thanal House
We were shown the new, nearly completed toilet, shower and dish washing/ sink area. It is a real improvement and allows the ladies vital access to the facilities from the dining hall. The other ablutions block is only accessible room the bedrooms and doesn’t help when the ladies need to get to the toilet quickly during daytime activities. It also allows the ladies to take their dishes to the sink area and wash them. As well as looking very smart, it will make life much easier during the daily routines.
There is a need for some further funding for tiles on the interior extension walls which would make for easy cleaning.
By the entrance gate to Thanal House another small toilet block is being built. This is for visitors as well as the ladies to use when they are outside. The current outdoor one is in very poor condition and desperately needs replacing.
Hopefully this too can be completed when the inside facilities have been completed, which Salini predicts will be by the end of next week.
New ablutions facilities Thanal House
New dish washing facility at Thanal, Salini and Shanil
Ladies at Thanal House
Ladies at Thanal house
While we enjoyed a totally unexpected meal prepared by Salini, she chatted about all the things she must do each and every day. Either Salini or Shanil must be on the premises at all times and there is always cleaning, cooking, caring to do. Even though the ladies wash their own clothes, and spend time outside doing activities, everything needs to be well organised and carefully supervised.
Each month the ladies visit the hospital to be seen by doctors. There is a nurse, Raji, who visits and helps each day, and Salini and Shanil pay her Rs 5000 (£50) per month. She monitors the ladies’ BP, heart rate and keeps their health records up to date. Government or social services support for these abandoned people is not evident; no family members are in contact, and the comfort and care of these abandoned ladies solely depends on Salini, her elderly mother and her husband Shanil.
Salini was given Rs5000 from SFHHI funds to pay for one month’s nurse attendance.
Salini Shanil and Christo