Update: Sachin Singh admitted into JJ

Sachin Singh, at JJ Hospital after being admitted.
Poonam Singh, at JJ Hospital

This update on Sachin Singh and Poonam Singh just in from Sangeeta:

The meting at JJ was scheduled at 10.00 A.M. However , the family came in late closer to 10.45 am. Dr Jadhav, the dean, was gracious and took us in immediately. We were helped and guided with all paper work and within 45 minutes Sachin was in Bed No 19 of the plastic surgery unit.

The operation will be scheduled for 21st April 2010, and is really an attempt to reduce the size of the bulge on the hand. We were told that the government does not pay for the second time that the 26/11 victims come in. Dr. Jadhav said the charges if any would be nominal and may even be sub Rs 2000. We envisage a 15 day stay for Sachin to ensure that he returns to his home healed completely.

I met Poonam and she is fine. She walks slowly and has put on weight..and the JJ doctors have advised her to loose weight as she has a problem with walking and extra weight will only make walking that much more difficult. I will post updates later and may avoid visiting the child too soon after the surgery. Infections are best avoided and too many people landing up too see Sachin only mean more exposure to infection.

26/11: Looking Back, Looking Ahead 4

Sangeeta Irani, India Helps member, is our straight-talking,fund-raising whiz. With over 20 years' experience in communications, this president of an ad firm checks the veracity of India Helps cases by making home and hospital visits, actively raises funds and, in her own words, tries to help victims lead a better life. This is her piece:

It could have been me, no one was safe. These were my first thoughts. As I watched them attack my city, my country, I changed. I was angry and I wanted to do something that proved that those cowards failed. If they thought we would be scared they were wrong. This country, its people will only help each other and come out stronger. That is all.

I started alone in the wards of the JJ hospital, meeting victims and talking to doctors. I soon realized that alone was not enough. This needs people who give time, not just money. Along the way, I found India Helps. We started with 26/11 and have now morphed into something larger. India Helps has only had to post an appeal and people across the world help with money and time.

I met Poonam Singh and her husband Santosh Singh. Poonam was injured with bullets at CST and had lost mobility. I went to a slum at Vikhroli and it was hard. Hard to understand how people lived with so little and were so content. We got Dr. Vaibhav Patil to give generously of his time to give Poonam and conduct physiotherapy at her home. We mobilized financial help so that the family could move to the base of the slum. This means Poonam would not need to climb uphill. Her knee still buckles sometimes, but she walks. Sachin, her son has lost movement in a finger and we are in the process of finding a solution. I am happy when I hear Poonam is walking, or that the Taj Trust is training her.

I have a lot to be grateful for, including a family that does not grudge the time I put in. This one year has taught me that life is unpredictable. However, how we react is up to us. Most of all, I have the satisfaction of knowing - it is possible to actually step out and help. That I have met a bunch of lovely people at India Helps is a bonus.

For me, 26/11 is the day we got angry. It’s the day they failed to shatter our fortitude.

Sangeeta Irani

***

Case Update

The Singh Family


1. Name of the deceased/ injured, occupation and approximate monthly earnings at the time of the casualty:

Poonam Singh - 34 years old
Sachin Singh – 7 years old

No one died in this case, but they were injured – enough for life to change for the family. Poonam is a housewife and a mother to 4 children. She therefore cooked, cleaned the home, got water, washed clothes and is a mother and a wife. Poonam earns nothing but if anyone else had to do her work it would cost the family.

Sachin is a student.

(ii) Where did the casualty occur:

At CST station. Poonam was with her son and was going to her father's village to attend a function. Both Poonam and Sachin were injured. Sachin heard some noise and ran, Poonam ran to get him. She was hit by bullets and was unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she was immobile and at JJ hospital. Sachin was also at the hospital.

(iii) Dependents (number and details):
Husband Santosh Singh and 4 children, including Sachin

(iv) Details of the situation at that time:

IH met her first at the JJ Hospital on the day she was leaving. She was the last 26/11 case at JJ . It was February and she was not able to walk independently. The doctors told her that with therapy, she would walk eventually . In the interim she would start with a walker, do physiotherapy . Poonam lived in a slum on a slope and walking on a hilly area was a daily affair. The inability to walk meant she could not move out of the 5x5 foot home- not even to the communal toilets.

Her daughter missed school and between the husband and the daughter they managed the home. The daughter missed out on over 3 months of school and thus lost a year in education. At eleven, she also lost her childhood.

Sachin seemed fine but post 26/11 Santosh Singh said his son was rebelling and not listening to them as much as before. He also lost mobility in one finger and has a visible big bump on left hand .

(v) IH contact:

Sangeeta Irani

(vi) Details of help/ support provided by IH:

Donated a Walker, paid a visit to her home at Vikhroli. Networked to get her a doctor who could come to the slum to teach her the required exercises. Godrej Hospital did that twice and then we got Dr. V. Patil who comes once a month and helps the family. India Helps promised to help with increased rent if the family found a home at the base of the slum, as this would help Poonam walk more and hence recover faster.

IH asked and generated support for 11 months of rent and reimbursement for a few medical bills. We are now helping with doctor visits and x-rays for Sachin . We are seeking a second opinion to figure if we can revive the finger. We will also seek guidance for plastic surgery and be with the family through the process.

(vii) Media coverage:

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=2009092620090926020025406b92cb628

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?661360

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/railway-announcer-who-saved-over-1-000-lives/477577/

(viii) Present situation:

To assist with the direction of Sachin's treatment; Poonam to continue the physiotherapy; provide monetary help for part payment of rent for a year.

(ix) Status of the case:

Help continuing until Nov. 2010

Part payment of rent for a year for Poonam Singh. To review her case after a year.

Payment for medicines as required .

Surgery and doctor consultation fees, X-rays etc for Sachin.

(x) Future requirements:

For Sachin, surgery as required

Update on Poonam Singh

This in from Sangeeta:

Poonam's son, Yash, who is all of three years old refuses to go to her (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOINEW/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI). We need some one to counsel at the slum because Santosh has one day holiday a week. The kid will not go near Poonam. And Santosh's father is 85 years old ...so he can't take anyone anywhere. I asked him why he did not tell me (about Yash's silence) and he said he assumed I knew it!

Santosh said that Poonam now has learnt to travel by train and changes two trains and travels alone to go to the Taj Training (Poonam Singh is being trained by the Taj Trust for a housekeeping job). He was happy and told me she is much stronger. Yes, her knee may buckle occasionally.

I asked him directly about the medical issues (he has been quoted in the Times of India report saying medical bills are mounting) and he said there are no great bills. Whatever problems they have they go to local doctor.

Edited to add: IH has collected funds directly in Santosh Singh's name for his home rent to enable Poonam Singh move to a lower level home from the hillock they lived in at Vikhroli, and is seeking medical help for their elder son, Sachin who has a finger injury that still needs treatment. We are also looking for counsellors who would be willing to make pro bono visits to Vikhroli to counsel 3 year old Yash.

Update on Sachin Singh

This update from Sangeeta:

We have an appointment with Dr Pathankar for Sachin (for his hand) at 7 pm on 26/11/2009. Dr Patil has agreed to go with the family. And we move ahead with Sachin a year after it all began.

Edited to add: We at India Helps would like to thank Dr Vaibhav Patil for his unstinting support to the Singh family.

Help needed with rent for a 26/11 victim

This report in from Sangeeta:

Sachin Singh, Poonam Singh's son, who received hand injuries during 26/11.

I went with Santosh Singh (Poonam Singh's husband) and Sachin (son) to Dr Panchal at Mahim. Dr Panchal made us take an x-ray and felt that there perhaps no chance. The ring finger on Sachins left hand, one joint is not there. It has fused to become one stiff bone with no mobility. He said that plastic surgery could take care of the bump.
He has guided us to another doctor at Chembur, called Dr Hemant Pathankar who specialises in hand surgery. I called him, he has asked me to call him next Wednesday night at 9 pm for next Thursday appt. I may not manage to go next Thursday.

Santosh Singh needs help - Rs 1500/- pm towards rent. He came down to the base of the slum and got a home with an attached toilet as Poonam lacks mobility (She was injured on her legs and is currently undergoing physiotherapy to regain mobility). I had promised to help if he moved down. The rent is Rs 3000/- pm. We need to pitch in with Rs 1500/- pm.

As I had asked for proof, he has given me a copy of the rent agreement. He also gave me bills worth Rs 1500/- for Poonam's treatment.

Edited to add: If you would like to help Poonam Singh with Rs 1500/- pm, please do write in to us and we will forward you the bank account details for Santosh and Poonam Singh. We need only 10 kind souls to chip in with Rs 1500/- to enable this lady live a life of dignity.

Update on Poonam Singh

This in from Sangeeta:

On Poonam Singh ...she has a visit on 8th to JJ. They have been asked to do an MRI and money in an issue. They have managed to shift lower but the rent is more. I will wait for a month and ask for receipts.The new rent is Rs 3000, he has kept a person with him, some relative for Rs 1000. So in effect he pays Rs 1000 more than his earlier rent .

His son is in a bad shape, his left hand is not working well. Plastic surgery is needed as it looks bad and his wrist not closing. Will try and meet them when they come to JJ on the 8th, to understand the problem first hand.

Edited to add: The India Helps team would like to thank Dr Vaibhav Patil for conducting at home physiotherapy sessions pro bono for Poonam Singh. It is professionals like you who give your time and expertise, who help rebuild lives.

If anyone would like to help Poonam Singh, and her son Sachin, please do write in to us at indiahelps@gmail.com or info@indiahelps.org.

Update on Poonam Singh

This report from Sangeeta:

The good news - the Godrej hospital at Vikhroli sent a doctor with an ambulance to Poonam Singh's slum this Thursday. They prescribed some exercises for Poonam Singh. They will come every 15 days to the slum to keep supervising her.
I will also talk to the administrator at Godrej Hospital and check what she has to say.


From team India Helps a big heartfelt thank you to Dr Rati Godrej and Godrej Hospital.

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Poonam Singh: Home visit. March 6, 09

This report from Sangeeta:

Indiahelps shows me Mumbai like no else did. I visited the Mahim slum and now this. I come back full of gratitude for all I have and just humbled by how calmly people carry on in the face of despair.

I took Shai Venkatraman of NDTV and we left with a cameraman, Rajendra in NDTV's vehicle . It took us 2.5 hrs to reach the home from Worli. We stopped the car for the car could not go up any more on that narrow road. After a little while, we started walking, a half km trek uphill through the slum. Poonam and Santosh Singh with their 4 kids stay in a small home uphill.

One of her sons was with her and was hit. He has undergone 4 surgeries and has one more scheduled. He is fine physically, a burnt patch on the thigh and a bump the size of a strawberry on his hand. More important, he has changed - his father said. He has become very difficult to handle.

Poonam needs a walker. But we cannot help her. The climb down to just get to an auto rickshaw is a challenge. We need to help the family to rent one year at the bottom of the slum. Help with the deposit and the rent - difference.

Then and only then this lady can even go anywhere and do any physiotherapy. Only then does she have a chance .

She is only 34 , with 4 kids. Her husband is a decent man. He told me, "I used to just give her the salary and she took care of everything. The kids, dropping them to school, washing clothes, buying provisions. Today between my eldest daughter and I we manage." The eldest daughter has lost two months of school. Her mother came home on 6th Feb 2009 from JJ.

She has to get water, and wash clothes and look after a lot of the work the mother did. She looks hardened.

I asked another old lady that lived nearby how did Poonam go to the toilet - for such places the toilet will be a trek to. - she said she cant go anywhere ...she has to do everything at home.

Yet in the face of such aadversity that family was stoic. Not happy but not crying and saying "Why did this happen to us?"

They have got some money for two people were injured at CST.

I have asked the husband to find a place lower and that we will help with difference in deposit and rent for a year only. Then I can work on her rehab.


I reached back home Mahim at 8.30 p.m. Shai will go again on this Thursday as the light was just not enough to shoot and there was no source to hook up for more electricity.


Action Point - Keep in touch with the husband. Get them to move down and then start helping her.

If anyone would like to help this family please do contact us at indiahelps@gmail.com.

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