Santosh’s New Dawn: New Beginnings

Today, I reach out to you with a story of hope, transformation, and the power of collective action.

In the heart of Sendhwa village, a movement is underway—a movement that transcends the barriers of economic constraints and brings the gift of health to those who need it most. The Navjeevan Community Development Society, with its unwavering commitment to service, has embarked on a mission to provide free surgical care to the underprivileged through the Navjeevan Free Surgery Project.

This February, we witnessed a milestone event as 135 deserving individuals were chosen for life-changing surgeries at no cost. The success of our initial surgical camp in March, where 88 critical procedures were performed, is a testament to our dedication and the community’s trust in us.

But this is just the beginning. Especially in the life of the 13 year old Santosh Gamal. When he was just 8 months old, a tragic accident occurred: a kerosene lamp tipped over, resulting in severe burns to his fingers on his left hand. The aftermath left him with a condition known as contracture, which caused his fingers to remain in a permanently bent state. Despite this adversity, Santosh’s indomitable spirit shone through. He did not give up, cheerfully he managed to adapt and learn to write using his unaffected hand. Even so, his left hand remained a constant reminder of the accident. Undeterred, he approached the Navjeevan medical team with a simple yet heartfelt request: Could something be done for his left hand?

Our Paediatric Surgeon Dr. Sampath, and a dedicated surgery student from CMC Vellore Dr. Timothy embarked on a transformative journey. In a meticulous surgery that spanned over two and a half hours, Santosh’s fingers were painstakingly released from their contracted state. The surgical team ingeniously utilized skin grafts from his thigh, skillfully applying splints to ensure his fingers remained straight.

Santosh’s resilience was evident during his four-day hospital stay. His unwavering determination transcended the physical pain. Hailing from a village 120 kilometres away, he had endured the journey to seek medical intervention. Upon discharge, he was advised to continue his care at a local hospital, where the dressing would be changed regularly.

The encouraging news arrived swiftly: The newly attached skin was integrating well with his body. Soon, the dressing would be removed, and Santosh would embark on the next phase of his healing journey—physiotherapy. As he prepared to leave, one of our doctors posed a question: “What do you aspire to be when you grow up?” Santosh’s response was filled with hope: “An Engineer.”

The doctor agreed that to achieve his dream, he would need full use of all ten fingers. And so, with a smile that radiated optimism for a brighter tomorrow, Santosh stepped out of the camp, fuelled by the promise of a limitless future brimming with possibilities. Thanks to the timely intervention of Navjeevan Medical team, Santosh can now dream of a new tomorrow, free to use both his hands and follow and pursue his dreams.