The inspirational story of Mayaben Solanki, a patient of the Jaya Rehabilitation Center and recipient of aid, has been featured on the front page of The Times of India. You may read the story at www.timesofindia.com or simply read the article as quoted below.
Proper Medical Aid And Daughter’s Love Help Anjar Resident Find Her Feet
AHMEDABAD: The earth may continue to shake but Maya does not flounder anymore. This 2001 quake victim has finally found her feet this Diwali as she started walking recently with the help of elbow crutches after ten long years, with her daughter – her only solace – by her side. “I am walking on my own feet after a decade. Holding my little daughter’s hands, I believe I will be able to stand on my feet and show the world I can,” says Maya Solanki who resides in Anjar, Kutch. On Thursday, a 5.3 tremor shook Gujarat again but the 33-year-old says she has forgotten how to be afraid anymore!
Maya is a living testimonial of how sheer human will can help a person overcome tragedy and adversity.
Maya was pregnant when the wall of her house collapsed on her on a fateful January 26, 2011. She was paralysed chest down. Surgery was performed on her but that did not help.
Miraculously, her foetus was safe and two months later she gave birth to a baby girl, Chetna . But her husband abandoned her immediately after saying he was not ready to shoulder the burden of a crippled wife and daughter. Maya’s world collapsed on her once again.
Forced to live with her poor parents, Maya would drag herself sitting on the feet and raised her daughter with the help of her mother for four years. Then she was forced to move out to facilitate the marriage of her brother. “I rented a hut and sustained alone on the monthly Rs 500 relief money. Thrice, I decided to kill myself but was thwarted every time I thought about my daughter,” confesses Maya.
In May this year, Maya, prodded by her daughter who is 11 now, went to Bidada Sarvodaya Trust. “Burdened by poverty, Maya never sought and got good medical help. We treated her holistically, gave her half calipers and now she is able to walk slowly. She will improve further ,” says Dr Mukesh Doshi of the trust.
The trust also pays for her daughter’s school fee, has put Rs 10,000 in fixed deposit and bought her a sewing machine. “I met a couple of businessmen for orders. I hope to earn well. My struggle would be worth it if I am able to educate my daughter well,” says Maya.
