Deliver disability care to 25000-rural Bangalore

Dear donor,

Greetings from Bangalore Baptist Hospital Society.

It’s a great delight to report on the progress made on our disability care initiative that you have so graciously supported. We greatly appreciate your support and acknowledge your love and care that brings hope to many people living with disabilities in our communities.

Hope returns!

Every day, we see progress in our children at our two learning hubs (Devanahalli and Doddabalapura). Pop into our learning hubs (and you must), and you’d be rewarded with a heart-warming sight. A little girl of four reaches her therapy class along with her mother, takes off her tiny slippers and places them neatly on the rack outside. She is one among the 100 odd sparkling gems registered at our learning hubs.

5-year old Venilla who has cerebral palsy is showing miraculous progress. Living in a small village called Doddasanne in Devanahalli Taluk, her mother found it extremely difficult to bring her for therapy. With a poor public transport system to her village, Venilla’s mother walks 2 kms carrying her and gets a bus to our hub. She is a beacon of grit and determination. After two years of patient and regular speech and physiotherapy, Venilla has improved significantly; able to sit, stand and walk without support; she can also talk fairly well now. Her mother is overjoyed with Venilla’s progress.

For the first time, the children from the learning hubs were taken for an outing to a National Wildlife Park. The trip along with their mothers filled them with unlimited fun, joy, and happiness. (Photographs are attached).

You might remember little Srisha whom you have been supporting, has progressed tremendously. She can now sit and stand without support, which was impossible a year ago. She can also happily call out "mummy and daddy". Her mother who is also a trainer in our learning hub is simply elated.

And while we celebrate their continual progress and hopeful future, we also recognize that there are many more children who need support to overcome their disabilities.  We need to reach out to them. The good news is that change is afoot - because of you, hopefully, many more lives will be touched through your generosity.

Just like Venilla, we have been able to help the following children with your support:

• 11-year old Pavan received his disability identity card and AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis)
• 5-year old Mohammed  received his disability identity card
• 8-year old Yashaswini received special education and speech therapy
• 5-year old Amulya received special education and speech therapy
• 5-year old Ananya received speech therapy, behavior therapy, and special education
• 8-year Akshay  received special education, speech therapy, and physiotherapy
• 10-year old Rahul received special education and speech therapy
• 9-year old Yashoda received special education, speech therapy, and behavior therapy
• 10-year old Vidya’s mother is undergoing special education training

Good times, ahead!

A tragic accident turned Lokesh’s life upside down! He was bedridden. "He couldn’t work and we were forced to sell all our possessions to get our daughter married.   Penniless, my husband became worried and restless” narrated his wife.

For Lokesh, a native of Kannamangala village, his wife and four children meant the world to him. “On several nights I felt a strong urge to end my life. I could not sleep peacefully. However, a new beginning was in store for us when we visited the Mother Teresa Rural Hospital. Thankfully, they referred us to their Wellness Health clinic at Devanahalli.”

“It was a different experience at the clinic. They were friendly and listened to my problems.  I opened up to my counselor and started on the treatment she suggested. Gradually, I learned to let go of my fears, sadness, and thoughts of ending life. I started to believe that my sickness was treatable and with their help and guidance, I can begin a new chapter in my life. I am now a regular visitor to the clinic and I feel much more in control now.

Recently, I opened a small convenience store that sells some essentials and eatables. However, the income was barely sufficient to meet my family’s needs. Thankfully the Bangalore Baptist Hospital supported me to buy a wider range of items to stock. Our lives have moved forward since. The people at the wellness clinic helped me turn my life around. For Lokesh, good times are ahead!

Just like Lokesh, through you, we have supported the following people:

• 52-year old Ramesh received disability card, pension and AFO enabling him to be independent
• 45-year old Thimmarayappa received disability card and pension entitling him other government benefits and a monthly income.
• 68-year old Jhanardhan received disability card and we have also helped to apply for a monthly pension.

It’s your thoughtfulness that is helping us to deliver the care and compassion to the poor and persons living with a disability. All this would not have been possible without your support. Thank you.

 With gratitude,

Gift Norman

 Dear donors,

Greetings from Bangalore Baptist Hospital!

Narayanaswamy is on his feet again! What a joy! Thanks to you for your kindness and support!

In Aaneshwara, a small village 40 km from Bangalore City, 45-year old Narayanaswamy, after a long battle following a stroke, managed to stand and walk.  He’s joyful that he can walk from his home to his mother's verandah with the aid of a walking stick. Thanks to people like you, Narayanaswany and many others with disability either due to a complication of illness or by birth itself, can stand up to so many challenges and look into the future with hope. You make the difference in their lives possible!

"He was the happiest and a jovial person in our family of five boys and two girls," says his niece, Mallika. "Look at this state now - he could neither walk nor talk," she adds. Narayanasway had a stroke, became paralyzed and lost his speech. "My uncle used to drive a tractor, earned well and was much respected. It hurt me so much to see him like that - more because he cannot speak".

Identified by the Village Rehabilitation Worker (VRW), we helped him register with our District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC). Then Hema, the physiotherapist began visiting him at home and provided the much-needed therapy at home. She counseled the family; taught his wife and niece the exercises that he should be doing every day. Gradually, Narayanaswamy showed signs of improvement. Hema encouraged him to walk with the support of a walker. Through the DDRC, we could facilitate his government entitlements. Recently Narayanaswamy received a walking stick that is helping him move around without the support of his wife or children.  "I'm all in all," says his wife, (who works as a garbage segregator), without much emotion. The struggle with her sick husband had drained her physically and emotionally. It had taken a toll on her as reflected in her mannerisms. But she is thankful for our efforts in restoring her husband to back to life! You played a significant role in enabling us to provide timely help through our disability work.

Along with Narayanasway, you also helped transform the lives of:

• 35-year old Srinivas from Boorigere village with disability card, pension, and a tricycle 
• 40-year old Gudiyappa from Bhuvanahalli village received disability card, pension, and a wheelchair
• 42-year old Ashok from Boodigere village received disability card, pension, and a tricycle
• 36-year old Munegowda from Vijayapura received disability card, pension, and loan to start a convenience store.

Our learning hubs for children with intellectual disability continue to be a source of hope and strength to parents of children whose future seemed uncertain. Believing that the services provided at the hubs can change the course of their children’s lives, they travel long distances to bring their children for speech therapy, physiotherapy, and communication. Their hope is that their children will develop the skills to become independent enough to attend normal schools and into self-confident adults. Once again, this is possible, because of your support!

You supported the following children.

• Three-year-old Bindu Sri of Doddaballapura with special education, speech therapy, and physiotherapy
• Three-year-old Dhanya Sri of Vijayapura with special education, speech therapy, and physiotherapy
• Seven-year-old Pavani of Rayasanda with speech therapy, physiotherapy, and special education
• Five-year-old Gowtham of Doddaballapura with special education and speech therapy
• Three-year-old Padma Charan of Doddaballapura with special education, speech therapy, and physiotherapy
• Six-year-old Sathvik of Doddaballapura with special education and speech therapy

Additionally, you supported four-year-old Anusree of Doddagollahalli with modified footwear enabling her to walk comfortably.

Hithaishi is the mother of Savitha who is one of the children attending our learning hub

Hithaishi.  is undergoing special educator training and will soon become a special educator at our learning hub. She becomes a permanent resource in her village and neighboring villages and can provide therapy. She is also a motivator in her village for parents with children with intellectual disability to bring them to our center.

Thank you so much for being a part of our mission. We look forward to your continuous support. With your support, we can help transform the lives of many more children and persons with disability.

With gratitude,

Gift Norman