Help for Pooja

A microproject by Sambhali Trust

Project Report | Mar 22, 2016
Pooja update

By Tabea Wedemeyer | Boarding Home volunteer

Welcome back at the boarding home, Pooja!

After her 5-day-stay in the hospital, Pooja and her mother came back to the boarding home. All the girls were happy to see her again. Since her operation, they had been asking for her return daily. Pooja herself seemed to be very exhausted that day. Her transport to the boarding home by van and the curious questions of all the girls around her were a big contrast to the silence she had enjoyed in the hospital the days before.

Pooja's mother stayed with her for some more days to help Pooja to wash herself and to change clothes as well as providing her with mental support, especially during the morning time when all the other girls had to go to school and she was left alone.

Medical check-ups at the boarding home

For the first few days after her return to the boarding home, the doctor came to see Pooja twice a day. He gave her injections against her pain and several other medicines for her leg.

Physio for Pooja

From the 15th February to the 4th March 2016, Pooja went to the physio every morning, together with a Sambhali Trust staff member and a volunteer, for 45 minutes. The physiotherapist was very friendly and encouraged Pooja daily to do some exercises at the boarding home herself.

During this period of time, the doctor changed Pooja's bandage several times and on her last day of physio, he removed it completely.

Since Pooja does not go to the hospital for her physio any more, she exercises herself every morning, while the other girls are at school. And additionally, in the afternoon, when the volunteers come to the boarding home, one of them exercises with her again for 45 minutes.

We wish you all the best, Pooja!

It is amazing to see Pooja making progress so fast. In the beginning, she could hardly stand by herself, but by now, she is already able to walk on her own. When the volunteers play outside with the boarding home girls in the afternoon, Pooja keeps on practising to walk the whole time and the other girls are always willing to help her. The sisterhood among the girls is really impressive.

We are also very glad to see, that she does not only practise walking, but at the same time tries to learn everything she missed at school during the last month.

We at Sambhali Trust are very proud of Pooja and wish her all the best for her further recovery!

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Feb 17, 2016
Operation update

By Tabea Linzbach and Tabea Wedemeyer | Volunteer Project Co-ordinators

A smiling Pooja and her mother after the operation

Many thanks to all those who donated for Pooja’s operation and treatment. We’re very happy to say that the operation has been successful and we also have funds for the after-care treatment and physiotherapy.

Friday, the 22th January 2016

On the 22nd of January, Pooja, two Sambhali Trust volunteers and a Sambhali Trust staff member travelled to the hospital for further discussions with the doctor regarding Pooja’s upcoming operation. We were able to tell the doctor that all the money for the operation had been fundraised, and made an appointment for the following Monday for some final medical check-ups.

Monday, the 25th January 2016

The doctor gave Pooja a medical examination. He took x-ray photos of her legs and explained the operation in detail. Mrs Manju Mehta (the voice behind the Sambhali Trust domestic abuse helpline, working tirelessly as its principle caseworker) informed Pooja’s parents that the surgery could go ahead. She asked them to come to Jodhpur to sign the necessary permission documents. The doctor provided a preliminary date for the operation, which would occur in the first week of February.

Thursday, the 4th February 2016

The date for the surgery was decided to be on the 5th of February. Pooja’s parents arrived in Jodhpur and together with Pooja, a volunteer and Mrs Manju Mehta, they went to the hospital to sign the necessary documents. The doctor personally explained to the parents the details of their daughter’s operation. Pooja’s parents were overwhelmed by the donations and support for Pooja, and thankful that she could undergo such an important procedure that would otherwise be unaffordable. Pooja’s father called her the “role model“ of their village. Moving to Jodhpur and Sambhali Trust has given Pooja the opportunity to get a good education, learn the English language (thanks to her contact to so many English-speaking volunteers) and finally, improve her physical condition. Pooja’s situation would be very different, had she not come from her village to the Sambhali boarding home in Jodhpur back in 2012.

Pooja herself was very happy to see her parents again. She displayed great strength and bravery, knowing that that the procedure would help to improve her life, however at 14 years old, she still harboured an understandable fear of the operation, and so needed strong support.

Pooja did not go back to the boarding home that evening, instead staying in the hospital with her mother in preparation for surgery the next day.

Pooja’s operation : Friday, the 5th February – 3pm

The doctor was able to report that Pooja’s operation went very well, without any complications. Although the volunteers and the staff members were able to visit Pooja on Friday, directly after her operation, she had only just started to regain consciousness.

Saturday, the 6th February 2016

When Pooja was visited by volunteers at the Hospital on Saturday, she was not only fully conscious, but smiled during their whole stay. She told the volunteers that she didn’t feel any pain. It was noticeable how glad she was to have her mother remaining by her side.

The other boarding home girls had written an encouraging letter to Pooja which the volunteers were able to pass on, and she was very happy and thankful for their words.

Sunday, the 7th February 2016

Today the volunteers will bring her some English story books and painting material to keep her occupied for the remainder of her “boring” five day stay in hospital.

We are hopeful and confident that Pooja will make a speedy recovery from her operation and remain free from pain, and we are certain that she will meet the challenge to learn to walk again with the same strength and bravery that she has already shown.

Since Wednesday the 10th February Pooja is back in the Boarding home and her mother is still by her side. The doctor comes twice a day to give her the necessary injections. On Sunday 14th February Pooja will go to the hospital again, to get a new bandage and we’ll talk with the doctor about the next steps of her recovery.

The hospital in Jodhpur

The doctor who was consulted on the operation

Pooja reading all the good wishes from Sambhali

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