“Living with Leprosy: A Story of Resilience and Hope”

 

Leprosy is a disease that affects millions of people around the world. It is a condition that is often associated with fear, ignorance, and stigma. However, for those who are affected by this condition, it is much more than just a disease. It is a struggle for survival, a battle against the odds, and a journey toward hope and healing.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet a remarkable person who has been living with leprosy for many years. She has lost all her fingers and toes due to the disease, but despite this, she exudes a remarkable sense of positivity and resilience. I was curious to know more about her story, and so I asked her about her experiences with leprosy.

She told me that when she was in primary school, she noticed that she had developed some pinkish-white spots on her body. They started on her feet and gradually spread to her hands and back. However, she had no sensation in these areas and did not feel any pain or discomfort. Her mother kept her at home for a year before finally taking her to a government hospital where she was diagnosed with leprosy.

After her diagnosis, she was sent to Dr. Bandorowala Hospital for treatment, where she stayed for several years. During this time, she never received any visits from her family, and her parents never even wrote to her. She felt alone and abandoned, and the stigma surrounding leprosy made it even more challenging for her. She received a few letters from her family, but they were mostly negative and blamed her for their ostracism from the village.

One letter, in particular, stood out to her. It said that her brother's engagement had been called off because the other family had found out about her condition. This was a turning point for her family, and they realized that they needed to leave the village and start a new life elsewhere. The entire family settled in a new village where nobody knew about her condition and started over.

However, her struggle was far from over. Due to the lack of sensation in her fingers and toes, she would often burn herself while cooking or standing near a stove. Over time, she lost almost half of each finger and toe. However, with the help of specialized training, she learned how to cook and work without injuring herself further.

Despite all the challenges she has faced, she remains positive and grateful for what she has. Her children have been a great source of support and inspiration for her, and she cherishes every moment with them. Her story is a testament to the human spirit and the power of resilience.

In conclusion, leprosy is a disease that affects not only the body but also the mind and spirit of those who are afflicted by it. However, with the right support, care, and understanding, it is possible to overcome the challenges and live a fulfilling life. We must do our part in eradicating the stigma and fear surrounding leprosy and create a world where those who are affected by it can live with dignity and respect.

 

Thank you 

Satish Sawant 

President 

Apanga Leprosy Punarvasan Va Yuvak Sangathan Antulenagar - NGO

+91 -937-123-5680

email :- apysapune@gmail.com

 

Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Breaking the Stigma: Advocating for the Rights and Dignity of Leprosy Patients in India"

Image
    "Breaking the Stigma: Advocating for the Rights and Dignity of Leprosy Patients in India"   During the British rule in India, the Dr. Bandorowala Leprosy Hospital was established by Christian missionaries to provide treatment for leprosy patients. However, during the period between 1960 and 1970, patients often delayed seeking treatment due to the stigma, fear, and lack of knowledge surrounding the disease. Leprosy was considered a curse of God, leading to severe deformities and disabilities. Moreover, medicines were not readily available, which further complicated the situation. Despite receiving treatment, many patients were not accepted back into their families, and some were even reported as dead in family records. Society shunned and boycotted them, and job opportunities were scarce. The discrimination against leprosy patients was a result of the deep-rooted stigma associated with the disease, leading to social ostracism and exclusion. Dr. Jal Mehta had...
Read more

Living with Leprosy: Stories of Resilience and Hope

 As the founder of an NGO working with leprosy patients and their families for over 12 years, I have had the opportunity to meet many individuals who have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. One such person is a lady I met while working in Kondhwa leprosy colony. Curious about her story, I asked her how she contracted leprosy and how her family reacted. She shared that she was in fourth grade when her parents discovered she had leprosy. However, they did not seek treatment for her immediately, as it was not available in the area where she was studying, and the stigma associated with leprosy was very high. It took almost a year for her symptoms to worsen, and her parents finally took her to the government hospital in Pune, Dr. Bandorowala Hospital, where they left her for treatment and never returned to collect her. She was a bright student, but the mental pressure and tension of being alone in the hospital without her parents caused her immense sadness. Her...
Read more