Case study-I :Kalyani
Parida - an unwelcome monsoon
Centuries of Indian
tradition requires that during the Raja Harvest
festival in Orissa all unmarried girls sit on
decorated swings in brand new dresses and welcome
the monsoon to the land. Kalyani was 18. She fell
from her swing and became a paraplegic. Kalyani
could not welcome the rains but she did herald
a new beginning. She became our first inpatient
after being brought in from the state hospital.
She stayed for an entire year – an unusually
long period –but became a valuable test
for physiotherapy and medical management that
has contributed to the Center’s now efficient
45-day average stay.
Kalyani’s story ends happily. She regained
the use of her legs to the extent that she only
requires crutches and is now an undergraduate
student. Her great love is poetry, a very special
talent. Though her family is very poor their hopes
are high to find an acceptable match that will
make Kalyani’s life complete.
Case
study: II : Rabi Tripathy- disabled and independent
Rabi
is one of our earliest patients. He is now employed
by the Center to help spinal cord injured people
come o terms with their loss of mobility –just
as he did 7 years ago.
Gaining independence as a person let alone a person
with a disability is not regarded usual or commonplace.
But for Rabi it is a statement of will and freedom.
His injury will not hold back his spirit nor will
let it restrict his life.
His encouragement and social counseling has helped
many of those inpatients of the centre. The credibility
of a fellow rural dweller who has faced many of
the same problems such as family, marriage, and
vocation has helped each person come to terms
with their new life with disability.
Case study:III : Usharani Padhi
Usha’s referred by a local social activist,
arrived at SMRC having just lost her baby. Married
and barely 6 months pregnant, she fell from the
roof of her house while hanging out the washing
damaging her spinal cord and remaining forever
in need of a wheelchair to move from place to
place.
Now
she is forced to live a single life. She has been
abandoned by her husband and lives in an accessible
house constructed for her on land donated by the
people of her village.
Her
father and relatives are nearby but the ‘return’
of a married daughter to the father is an unwelcome
and shameful event in her society.
Usha
battles depression but keeps herself occupied
by making beautiful items of craft (when she can
secure some materials) and running a small essential
commodities shop.
She
is relatively independent in a rural society that
gives little freedom to their women. With courage,
humour and warmth she overcomes all to inspire
others.
Case study:IV : Niranjan Nayak
Niranjan
was discovered in 1995, 2 year after his road
accident, in good physical condition unlike most
others. He was brought into our centre for rehabilitation.
He
was married and had made a home and brought in
enough money to feed them through his skilled
laboring work in the nearby town. After he become
paraplegic the responsibility for the welfare
of the family once again fell to his father –
now an elderly man. Their earning is tied to the
success of a small pan and tea stall.
Once
the eldest son marries it is customary in many
homes for him to then assume the role as head
of the family. Niranja’s father has had
to continue as mentor. He accompanied his son
for rehabilitation and assists in the running
of the stall.
Meanwhile
Niranjan has not neglected his duties as a father,
son and husband as he lives a full life with dignity.
Case
study: V : Gayadhar Jena
Only
after his spinal cord injury did Gayadhar discover
he had so many talents and that his dreams did
not really shatter, he likes his spine, after
all.
Gayadhar
was becoming a well-educated boy studying in high
school and doing well. His decision to go to another
state to earn money came from his desire to build
his family a cement home. 3 rooms at first but
room to extend up and, one day put on a top storey.
It would cost around Rs. 100,000 ($24,000)
A
tractor ran over his back in a frightful road
accident when he was just 24. His paraplegia was
stabilized but after leaving the Govt. run rehabilitation
centre he develop complications until he was detected
by our team. A comprehensive rehabilitation programme
began that included training in sewing, and craft.
To
the delight of his family and local community,
Gayadhar is now producing miniature works of art
in clay that are sold to people in surrounding
villages during religious festivals. His shop
keeping skills are being passed on to other family
members and his stitching machine is worn shiny
with work.
The
house is now just one room away from completion.
At 29, Gayadhar has hardly has to put any dream
on hold.
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