Life can change in a moment … tomorrow, an accident or an illness could render you disabled, without the use of your arms or limbs.
Nothing in your imagination can prepare you for life after disability, when suddenly, you cannot independently do any of the things that you normally used to.
“We read about innumerable road accidents daily. But only the dead make the news. Have you ever thought how life would be afterwards for those people who survive these accidents with grievous injuries, who might have been crippled or bed-ridden for life?,” asks Ashla, a paraplegic and a volunteer with Pallium India.
Who better than Ashla would know about the isolation and despair of suddenly losing one’s mobility.
Life had come to a full stop for this young woman, an MCA holder, one fine day when she fell off a train. Her resilience and spirit and the helping hand of Pallium India’s chairman, M.R. Rajagopal, helped her find her feet again.
But for hundreds of others, who are left crippled for life, the lack of that helping hand and emotional support often proves to be their undoing
Untold misery
“Once they leave the hospital, everyone including doctors as well as friends and family, somehow assume that life will once again fall back into place. But few are able to accept their fate stoically and go through severe psychological stress and depression,” says Dr. Rajagopal.
Psychological issues aside, it is not easy to start life on a wheelchair one morning. One needs training to learn how to get into and out of the wheelchair independently, how to use the toilet, bathe and dress independently, to remove the urine bag etc. Early rehabilitation can do wonders to help these people.
Residential programme
The trauma that the spouse goes through is another untold tragedy. Pallium India decided to take up a rehabilitation scheme last year after they had to deal with some tragic situations wherein the spouses of some young paraplegic patients committed suicide.
With the Social Justice Department approving funding for the scheme, Pallium India today runs this residential rehabilitation programme at Arumana Hospital, Perunthanni, for the disabled, wherein, the patient and his/her family or care giver are given physical training, counselling and support so that the wheelchair-bound person can become independent once again.
Jeevathaalam
On Friday, the scheme was given a name — Jeevathaalam — and formally inaugurated by Social Justice Minister K.K. Shylaja.
The patient and spouse/family member can stay at the hospice for a month.
During this time, they undergo psychological and physical evaluation and receive training in daily living and counselling on issues – spiritual, sexual, diet guidance and physiotherapy. At a time, three patients can be accommodated.
So far some 18 paraplegic patients have utilised this facility.
