This post is dedicated to Elsie James, my Canadian mother.
Today is Mother’s Day in America and as I was on my morning run I began reflecting on the women in my life and what Mother’s Day means to me. I have been blessed with 2 wonderful daughters and a fantastic husband who supports me in all of my endeavors. I also have been fortunate to live in the USA, where access to education and health care is available to everyone.
There is one young mother’s story is in the forefront of my mind these days, it is the story of Maya Kumari and her young son Prakesh (I have changed their names for this blog.) On our most recent trip to Nepal in March of 2014, we met a wonderful woman, Elsie James, who is my kindred spirit. Without her the rest of this story would not have been possible. You see, on our first day in Kathmandu we went with Elsie to the Kanti Children’s Hospital and saw first hand the conditions that young families are faced with when their child is ill. We visited the SAV Nepal Family Shelter, which provides both housing and food for families when their child is being treated at Kanti. Elsie’s charity, Medical Mercy Canada, paid for the shelter to be remodeled recently and they also contribute financially to the day-to-day operations.
A few days later we were all in Rupakot working with 13 doctors at the Rupakot Health Camp. Among the patients we saw during the 2-day camp were Maya Kumari, and her 4 year old son Prakesh. Rene wrote about them in a previous post, helping-a-young-family, but we have since learned more about their story.
Maya Kumari was married at the age of 14, to a man 22 years older than her. After the marriage she moved in with her husband’s family, as is the custom in Nepal. 13 months later she became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy when she was only 15 years old. She was in labor for 3 long difficult days and delivered Prakesh at home with her mother-in-law and aunt in attendance. When Prakesh was 9 months old he became ill with a high fever accompanied by seizures and did not receive medical treatment until it was too late to prevent brain damage. Maya Kumari brought Prakesh into the health camp seeking help for the boy. Both of them were malnourished and she was still breast-feeding him at 4 years old. He did not eat any solid food and she was not sure if he would ever be able to walk or talk. Knowing about Kanti and SAV Nepal Rene suggested that Maya Kumari take Prakesh to Kathmandu for diagnosis.
About a week after we left Nepal Maya Kumari decided to go to Kathmandu to Kanti to see if there is anything that can be done for him. We provided transportation to Kathmandu – where they were met by Elsie and Ramesh – who took them to SAV and helped them to settle in. Maya Kumari and Prakesh stayed at SAV for over 6 weeks. While Prakesh was undergoing diagnosis and treatment they both flourished in their new environment. Prakesh began to eat solid foods and they both gained several pounds. Maya Kumari was able to rest and she loved being with her new friends in the shelter home. Prakesh received physiotherapy and is growing stronger. His seizures are controlled by medication and that seems to have a calming effect on him as well. He is blind but is not deaf. He should be able to learn to speak and walk with continued exercises.
But now it is time for Maya Kumari and Prakesh to return home. She does not hear from her husband, nor does she receive any financial support from him. Maya’s relationship with her in-laws is not good either. She is a child herself at the age of 19 and has already gone through so much and without an education or any marketable skills, along with the burden of caring for a very disabled child her future outlook is dim.
I know how difficult it would be for me to raise a very disabled child and I live within a few miles of one of the premier hospitals for disabled children in America. Prakesh soon will be to big for his mother to carry around and his daily care will become even more difficult.
What will this young mother do? She will love her son and care for him for as long as she is able to, that is what makes her the amazing young woman who she is. Namaste! Maya Kumari, I salute the goddess in you today.
What will this young mother do? She will love her son and care for him for as long as she is able to, that is what makes her the amazing young woman who she is. Namaste! Maya Kumari, I salute the goddess in you today.
Rene and I, along with Elsie James, remain committed to helping this young woman and her son.