Physical Health India Project #9318

Medicines to 200 terminal cancer patients in India

by Bangalore Hospice Trust - Karunashraya

Medicines to 200 terminal cancer patients in India

Project Report | Feb 27, 2013
Slow but steady progress

By Hema Shyam | General Manager

Patient with sister

In the last three months we have admitted 251 patients to our inpatient facility. Through our Home Care Services we have extended care to another 37 new patients. All these are just figures, but when one talks to some of the patients or the attenders of some patients, one gets to know the extent of relief they have got after admitting the patient here.

Ranganna was a 55 year old victim of lung cancer. He was brought in to Karunashraya in a coma stage lying on the stretcher in a foetal position. He was given good care and medication and the counsellor would say a few words to him though he would not respond. After about 15 days he opened his eyes and after another fortnight started to talk a little. The physiotherapist started attending on him and his condition began to improve day by day. His question to her everytime was whether he would ever walk again. With the care meted out to him, along with physiotherapy and medication, his improvement was fast and he was walking with a walker. In another 10 days he walked without help. He wanted to go back to his house to be with his family and he was discharged from Karunashraya. He went out of here walking on his own feet and he was thankful for this achievement. He knew he was free to come back here anytime he felt the need for our services. Ranganna did get readmitted three weeks later and he passed away here peacefully and with dignity.

Like Ranganna, many others have benefited from coming to Karunashraya having not only their physical pain attended to but also their spiritual, psychological and emotional needs. Ours is a holistic approach towards patients needs.

We have till date, raised a sum of US$11,922 through the GlobalGiving platform. Our target is US$20,000 to provide care for one whole year. Our progress has been slow yet steady and we thank each and everyone of you who has made this journey possible.

Physiotherapy

Counsellor with patient

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Nov 21, 2012
Your donation touched many lives

By Hema Shyam | Project Leader

A patient with her thoughts

Dear Friends of Karunashrya,

In the last three months we have taken care of 251 patients at Karunashraya excluding those who were given care at their own homes under our Home Care Services. All of this has been possible only with the continuous flow of donations from donors like yourselves. Some of our patients were so poor that they did not have any money for dressing their open wounds. Once they get admitted here dressings are done twice daily and they get a lot of relief from pain and discomfort. Their pain is under control within a couple of days of admission and such things are possible with the money received for medicines,

One such patient is 60 year old Mary (name changed for anonymity). She hailed from a small village outside Bangalore. She was married off when she was only 12 years old and within two months her husband expired. The marriage was one in name only. Amongst people of her caste remarriage was unheard of and she had to spend her life as a widow. It was a cursed life as, young as she was, widows could not attend any religious functions, marriages etc. After her parents died she lived with her brother who did not have enough money to get her treated once she was diagnosed with cancer. There is no awareness about cancer in rural areas and people believe it is contagious and hence keep away from the cancer patient. She just suffered the pain and stayed at home till someone told her about Karunashraya and then she was admitted here. She is happy here as everyone talks to her and takes care of her, treating her like a normal person. Though she had attempted suicide twice before, now she is happy to live and only wants one thing - a peaceful death.

We thank our many donors for helping not just Mary but many others like her who have had access to FREE pain relief, food and counselling and have been able to spend their last days in peace without any financial worry.

Links:

www.karunashraya.org

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Aug 13, 2012
Our sincere thanks for helping us

By Hema Shyam | Project Leader

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