Parvati (5) and Malesh (16) joined us in late February 2008. They were orphaned when a drunk driver killed their mother and brother in November 2006. Initially, they were separated by family fighting over them—thinking that they might get their hands on the accident settlement. After 2 months, they were reunited and left with their mother’s cousin (they call him uncle). He would feed them irregularly and they were not allowed to sleep in the shack because his wife did not approve. In the picture below, Malesh is standing in the opening where he slept with his sister.

In April, Parvati was first admitted in hospital. She was breathless and unable to keep food down. It was the start to a long six months.

The government hospitals would keep for weeks at a time and then release her saying that she was ok. She would have to be readmitted within a couple weeks each time.

Within minutes of walking in their doors, Parvati was attached to all the machines she needed in the Intensive Care Unit. The doctors were not guaranteeing anything.

It took a week before she was out of imminent danger, and our fantastic team of volunteers and staff pulled together and gave round the clock care to not only be there for Parvati, but to support her brother Malesh.

She has been in the hospital all month and has steadily gained strength. She had a biopsy of her lungs and a bronchioscopy. It was quite a traumatic time for Malesh—he was worried and shaking. Finally the surgeon came out and told him that it all went well and that Parvati was sleeping. After being released from the hospital, a foster family has been arranged for the two siblings until all of the paperwork is complete for their entry into an NGO that has assured us they would take care of Parvati like their own and give Malesh training in various skills.

Let’s hope that the road ahead is a lot less painful and a lot more hopeful. No more hospitals.