Read more about this heart-touching program:
- Shahana, 9
- Rehamati, 13
- Agnes, 24
- Ramesh, 8
- Tenmuli, 25
- Sagar, 9
- Rehman, 18
- Mohammed, 22
- Letter from Polio Child Relief
- Letter from Rotary Club
Name: Shahana, 9 years old.
Family Background: Second oldest child of a family with 4 children. They are very poor and live in a one room hutment in a nearby slum. Her father was our of work for some time and now has a temporary job as a driver. Her mother is very appreciative of our care and concern for her child.
Medical Condition: Has Post-Polio-Paralysis in her right upper and lower limb. Her right lower limb is 2 inches shorter. She can walk, but with a limp which will get worse with time. Because her hip bone was not affected by the disease, she has very good chances for improvement through correctional surgery. If not treated now, in 5-6 years her right leg will be 4 inches shorter and her backbone negatively affected, making any treatment then more difficult.
Time required: 1 1/2 year.
Treatment received: Shahana completed her limb-lengthening procedures last
September, and in November she underwent special therapy for one month. She was then admitted for her 3rd operation (foot/ankle correctional surgery), which will hopefully be her last. She's doing fine and recovering well.
Name: Rehamati Bi Sheikh, 13 years old.
We have examined Miss Rehamati Bi Sheikh, 13 years old. She suffers from Post-Polio-Paralysis in both lower limbs, the left leg being more affected than the right one. She was operated on at a Polio camp 3 years ago. After that operation she has been able to walk around, whereas before that she was crippled and not able to walk. Her left leg is 2 1/2 inches shorter. For further improvement she requires:
Firstly, a correctional surgery in her right knee. Secondly, she requires a limb-lenghthening surgery in her left lower limb, and lastly, a triple Arthrodesis surgery in her left foot.
The costs for the first operation will be Rs 4,500 / US$95. The costs for the limb-lengthening sugery will be RS 10,000 /US$215. The third operation will be Rs 4,500 / US$95.
The treatment will take approximately 1 - 1 1/2 years.
Treatment received: Rehamati completed her limb-lengthening procedures and is recovering well. She is now in her last stage of exercising and walking therapy with her new caliper. She is so much more positive about her future, and now being able to move around as a healthy person increases her chances of marriage, which she and her family now have hopes for.
Name: Agnes DeSouza, 24 years old.
We have examined Miss Agnes DeSouza, 24 years old. She has Post-Polio-Paralysis in her right upper and lower limb and light paralysis in her left lower limb. She received surgery and calipers some time back which noticeable improved her condition.
Se requires firstly an operation in the right knee to correct the flexon deformity, and the second stage will be a limb-lengthening surgery in her right lower limb.
The costs for the first operation will be Rs 4,500 / US$95. The costs for the limb-lengthening surgery will be RS 10,000 /US$215.
The treatment will take approximately 9-12 months.
Name: Ramesh, 8 years old.
Family Background: Second youngest child of a farming family with 7 children. One week after Ramesh and his twin brother Umesh were born, their mother died. This brought severe hardship to this family. One year later his uncle brought all the children to Mumbai, because they could not be raised and cared for in the village. After settling here, the older brothers and sisters started taking care of the little ones. They are all illiterate, except for the oldest in the family, who educated himself. There is no school in their slum, which is in a remote area out of town.
Medical Condition: Due to Polio contracted at the age of one year, Ramesh has slight deformity in his right lower leg with one inch shortening. He can walk with a slight limp, but only for short distances, as he tires easily. He cannot run. If not treated now, his deformity will increase with age and weight, further deteriorating his physical condition in teen and adulthood.
Time required: Approximately 7-10 months.
Treatment received: None yet.
Estimated costs: Total Rs 14,500 / US$310.
Other Information: A very needy family appreciating our help greatly.
Name: Tenmuli 25 years old.
Family Background: She is married, has no children yet and does housework. Her husband is a rickshaw driver. Tenmuli and her family were right away eager to go through with the treatment. They are very appreciative and we have a good understanding and link with them. A poor family like hers could never afford to pay for this delicate and difficult limb-lengthening surgery, which would be costing 6-9 times as much at any other qualified private hospital in Mumbai.
Medical Condition: She has Post-Polio-Paralysis in her left lower limb with deformities in her left knee and ankle. Her left leg is 2 inches shorter. She limps while walking and with every step has to support her right upper leg with her hand.
Time required: 1 year - 15 months.
Treatment received: First operation; is presently going through stage 2.
Estimated costs: Total Rs 19,000 / US$400.
Other Information: Tenmuli started her treatment and already successfully completed stage one. The most crucial time for her now is stage 2 with the limb-lengthening phase. The initial surgery went well.
Name: Sagar Pradip Dhanwate, 13 years old.
Family Background: He is the youngest child of a poor laborer and lives with his family in a one room hutment. Both children can go to school and Sagar is a bright young student. His older sister is giving some tuition at home to help support the family. Sagar and his family are extremely appreciative of our help and are very eager to go ahead with treatment as soon as possible.
Medical Condition: Sagar has Polio-Paralysis in his right leg since the age of 7 months. Due to this he lacks some of the basic active muscle structure in his right foot. This leaves his right foot flabby, very difficult to control and unable to give him support. He can walk slowly, supporting each step of his right leg with his hand.
Time required: 9 - 12 months.
Treatment received: None yet.
Estimated costs: Total Rs 13,500 - 18,000 / US$300 - 400.
Other Information: Sagar has, according to the medical examination, very good chances of walking normally in the future and even being able to run.
Name: Rehman Karim Saiath, 18 years old.
We have examined Mr. Rehman Karim Saiath (18yrs). He has Post-Polio-Paralysis in his left lower limb with deformities in his left knee and in his left foot. His left leg is 1 1/2 inches shorter.
He requires first an operation on his left knee, for the second stage he needs an operation on his left foot, and lastly surgery for lengthening of his left lower limb.
The costs for the first 2 operations would be Rs 9000 ($200). The costs for the limb-lengthening surgery of his shorter left lower leg would be RS 10000 ($220).
The treatment will go on for approximately one year.
Name: Mohammed Iqbal Khan, 22 years old.
We have examined Mr. Mohammed Iqbal Khan (22yrs). He has sever Post-Polio-Paralysis in the left upper and lower limb, as well as slight deformity in his right leg. He received two successful correctional surgeries, one in his left knee and one in his left upper limb, so that the left leg now is straightened out completely. His left lower limb is about 4 inches shorter.
He requires first a limb-lengthening surgery on the left lower limb, then for stage two a surgery in his left foot and for the last stage, an ankle fusion surgery. At the end he will receive calipers.
The costs for the limb-lengthening surgery of his shorter left lower limb will be Rs 10000 ($220). The costs for the second and third stage operations will be Rs 9000 ($200). The decision about the calipers will be taken after correctional surgeries are completed.
The treatment will go on for approximately 1 1/2 years.
Mumbai India, April 2003
To Whomsoever It May Concern
Dear friends and donors,
Since this information about our project with Polio children has been made available to the public by Family Care Foundation in the form of a web-page in February 2002, we have received numerous requests, offers for help and assistance. We would like to thank all of you who have taken an interest in our needy, humanitarian project for the handicapped, disabled children and youth of India. We are very encouraged by this response to carry on our project and hope to keep you informed about our aims, activities and progress through our web-page as much as possible. Please feel free to communicate with us any time for more questions at our e-mail address above. Thank you.
Outline of our project
Polio Child Relief Mumbai is a non-profit organization with the aim of providing ‘Free Correctional Treatment’ to children who are suffering from deformities, mostly as a result of Polio. Though overall Polio is decreasing due to immunization campaigns, there are still a great number of Polio victims here in India, and many thousands in Mumbai (Bombay) alone. We have engaged in this life-changing and ongoing Polio-project since the summer of 1997. We work together with Doctor Paresh Desai of Shradda Hospital in Mumbai, who is a renowned specialist in orthopaedic surgery of deformities, in particular for polio afflicted children.
Since 1997, hundreds of children have received successful correctional surgery and treatment under this project, thanks to the united effort of those involved, and the kind support of many. Children who were previously unable to stand up or move around on their own are now able to walk for the first time, and are able to go to school and start a useful life!
Our volunteers regularly survey slum areas to locate new Polio-affected children, sometimes under very difficult circumstances. They then admit them to Dr. Desai’s hospital, where the children receive a free examination and surgery, as well as follow-up treatment, which could include providing calipers and crutches, if required. We consult the patients’ families, coordinate the children’s treatment, and transport them back and forth, giving care to them and their needy families in the many details during their time of recuperation. We are also able to give them comfort and moral support, and assist them in case of emergency. We also distribute clothing and other useful items to them.
On our web page you can view the progress and story of some patients who have successfully completed treatment, and see a list of patients who are waiting to receive ‘Free Treatment’. Polio Child Relief Mumbai has a sponsorship program, where each patient’s medical record, with suggested treatment and cost, is listed. Once sponsorship is received, they are admitted for surgery and start treatment. Dr. Desai of Shraddha Hospital offers his skill and medical expertise for the poor children on a minimal cost to cost basis, which makes it possible for a standard correctional surgery to be performed for only $95, and a difficult limb-lengthening surgery for only $210, which is 6-7 times less than average costs. Thus many poor, polio-afflicted children can greatly benefit from this project.
PCR-Mumbai is headed by its project managers Mr. Josef Suess and Mrs. Janet Barcelo. They are assisted by project coordinator M. K. Jyothi, as well as volunteers from our unit. There are several part time helpers, social workers and residents of the various slum areas who also take part in our common project. In addition, we work with other organizations at times, such as the Rotary and Lion ’s Clubs, and participate in united medical camps in the area.
We urgently need sponsorships to provide free treatment to as many children as possible. For a list of more patients requesting help, as well as more info regarding the project, please contact us via email.
With more financial support, many more handicapped children will be able to benefit from this life-changing project. We thank you for supporting this needy cause. Together we can build a brighter future for these precious children.
For Polio Child Relief Mumbai
Josef Suess,
Project manager
Mumbai, July 2001
To Whosoever It May Concern
Rotary Club Borivali Mumbai is pleased to make mention of our working together with Dr. Paresh Desai of Shradda Hospital and Polio Child Relief Mumbai. This project is a joint effort to make it possible for Polio afflicted children in Mumbai to receive free correctional operations and treatment.
We initiated an ongoing project with Dr. Desai in the summer of 1999. The volunteers of Polio Child Relief Mumbai had at that time already been working together with Dr. Desai and were very active in surveying slum areas fo find and take care of Polio and disabled children.
Our joint project got off to a very good start and we can now look back on 2 years of many successful operations and treatments. Many of the patients who have completed the treatment were previously, due to their handicap very stigmatised. Now they can lead a free, independent life. Some children made quite dramatic recoveries from crawling and sitting around in their huts to where they now walk freely on their own.
The Rotary Club is very pleased to contribute to this project. We are very happy to be working together with the experienced and committed Dr. Desai and the dedicated, hardworking volunteers of Polio Child Relief Mumbai. The well-coordinated effort on each one's part has made this polio project well established and successful.
In an effort to expand the project further and in order to reach more Polio afflicted children more support is needed. There are over 50,000 Polio afflicted in Mumbai, and a great number of these are children who have not yet received any help.
We would like to ask everyone to extend their help and support as much as possible to Polio Child Relief Mumbai and join us in building a better future for these destitute, disabled Children.
Yours in Rotary
Rajendra Kinariwala