The Ecstasy and the Agony: Working with the Paralysed
People ask us: How can you keep working with so much of suffering? Is it not depressing?
And we keep responding, There is pain in it; but also enormous satisfaction. Let us tell you the story of Geetha (not her real name).
We are very proud of our extended family structure. But everything in this world has its positives and negatives.
Geetha had an accident and became paralysed from the waist down. She has a loving husband and two loving children. Geetha came to us in tremendous pain, both of the body and of the mind. It was easier to take care of the physical pain. Our wonderful team that we are so proud of – Dr Shibu, the Physical Medicine specialist, Mr Sunaj, the Physiotherapist, and Ms. Vergin, our social worker – worked with her. Today, Geetha, who used to be bed-bound all the time, has learned how to move herself from the bed to a wheelchair and she can now cook and take care of the children. How fulfilling it is for a mother to be able to do her children’s hair and to look after their various needs!
Despite all this, despite the love of the husband and children, the dynamics of the extended family were such that Geetha is having to move out of her home. She is going to be an inmate in a special care place. We rejoice for your new-found freedom, Geetha; we also weep with you, for having to leave your home.
May you discover new worlds and may you revel in the love that your husband and children are giving you, and the love that you are giving them.
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