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Saved at Death’s Door
Pooja is a happy and vivacious little girl living with her mother and sisters in a village of Madhya Pradesh. Her life today is a striking contrast from her journey with pain and sickness.
Pooja was two years old when her father Santhram died of cancer. Her mother, Rajkumari struggled to take care of her three children. Her mother was left a young widow who had no education and no source of income to provide for the family.
It was at this time that she was included in World Vision child sponsorship programme. Child sponsorship enabled Pooja to have access to education and health care.
To support her family, Rajkumari worked as an agricultural labourer for daily wages. When Pooja was in the 3 rd standard, tragedy struck. Pooja became progressively weak over a period of three years. It came to a point where she could hardly walk, often crawling on her knees. She experienced a severe burning pain in her chest.
Due to superstitious beliefs and lack of awareness on health care, her mother, Rajkumari, refused to take her to the doctor in the nearby town. World Vision India’s staff finally convinced Rajkumari, and Pooja was taken to a hospital, 25 km away from the village. The diagnosis was Bone Tuberculosis.
After 3 months of treatment and a surgery, Pooja returned to her village a healthy young girl. She is now in the 5 th standard and aspires to be a teacher.
“I am glad I am without pain. I am happy” she says with a relieved smile.
Child sponsorship enabled Pooja to have access to education and health care. Her family has been provided assistance to a build a small house. World Vision India has constructed 6 new classrooms and provided desks and benches to Pooja’s school. In the village, World Vision India constructed a hand pump and assisted in the construction of a 2 km road.
The ripple effects of child sponsorship have ushered in a cycle of transformation, beginning with a change in people’s attitude to a positive and lasting change in the lives of children and people in need.
For just Rs. 800 every month, you can sponsor a child. Your sponsorship will provide your child access to education, health care and clean drinking water. The child’s family and community will also benefit through income generation programmes and developmental works.
