Meridian Cares

It costs so little to completely change the life of a child, and in this world where everything seems to go so wrong, you can help something go right. As you read the story below, if you are moved to help, please do. You can make a difference that changes not only one life, but generations to follow.

Please join with other Meridian readers in sponsoring a child (or children) by clicking here.

Two-and-a-half years ago, our team from Rising Star Outreach was in the Dheng Colony in Bihar to install a clean water project.  The colony had never had access to clean water, but this was about to change!  We installed a water purification plant and for the first time ever, the families of this far-away colony were drinking fresh water.  We knew it would impact the health of every family going forward.

What we could not change was how the contaminated water they had been drinking may have already impacted the health of the people.  In Bihar, the soil has a high concentration of arsenic, which often leaks into the water table.  Can you imagine drinking water laced with arsenic?  Children are especially sensitive to the toxic effects of this chemical.  We were grateful to be able to change their exposure and the trajectory of their lives.

Women in Bihar collect clean water from a water purification plant installed by Rising Star Outreach, improving health and reducing water contamination.

This colony was very far from our school, and the colonists lived in abject poverty. While installing the water purification plant our Northern Director, Suku, learned that the colony had several acres of land that were not being used.  Suku thought surely, he could find a way to help them use their land productively.

When he passed a dirty old pond on the property, Suku smiled.  He immediately enlisted the help of the colonists to drain the pond, enlarge its parameters and clean the filth away.  The pond was refilled and stocked with small fishlings.  Not only are they able to obtain quality protein in their diets, they have sold more than $2,000 of fish at the nearest village market.  The project has employed many members of the colony and given them the chance to live productively without begging.  These families now have a consistent income.

The drained pond in a Bihar leprosy colony is being repurposed for fish farming, providing sustainable income and nutrition for the community.

But what about the other families?  Suku got the others involved in a project to grow mangos, bananas and guava trees.  He brought in backhoes and steam shovels.

Everyone in the colony had to pitch in as irrigation ditches were created to water the rows and rows of fruit trees that were planted.  They worked in the blazing sun until they were exhausted.  For the colonists, simple tasks such as digging or weeding were particularly difficult because of the ravages of leprosy which had left many of them without fingers, toes, or even hands or feet.

But they caught Suku’s enthusiasm and vision.  Was it possible that they could become economically self-sufficient?  Suku answered their doubts with his typical enthusiasm: absolutely they could do this!

They worked long and hard dealing with cobras, heat, and monsoons.  But their gardens are now flourishing!

As he worked with the colonists, Suku noticed three little children that worked right alongside their parents.  The children had all of their fingers, toes, hands and feet.  They were determined to help their struggling parents. Suku was impressed with their willingness to do such hard work.

The middle child, Satya, (not her real name) had heard that Rising Star Outreach had a school for children from leprosy colonies.  Cautiously, Satya approached Suku and asked him if they could attend the school.  At first Suku was hesitant.  Yes, Rising Star had a school, but it was very far away.  If the children came, they would rarely be able to see their parents.  Besides, the school already had a long waiting list.  But Suku had been very impressed with the pluck of these three kids.  He spoke to the parents and told them he would find a way to admit them to the school.  The family was overjoyed.

That’s how Satya, her older sister and her younger brother were able to join Rising Star Outreach School.  Satya dove into her schoolwork with the same fervor she had worked to dig ditches for her colony’s farm.  While she was far behind the other students, she took it as a personal challenge to catch up. She studied every night until the housemother insisted the lights were to be turned off.  She was up early to study again.  And it paid off as Satya was soon at the head of her class.  She felt triumphant!

Then six months ago, Satya began to experience inexplicable physical problems.  She would suddenly fall down in a fit, tremble and shake and be unresponsive until the fit had passed.  Concerned, Suku took her to the local hospital.  They diagnosed her with epilepsy.  They gave her medication, but her condition didn’t improve.  The doctors, thinking perhaps her condition was connected to emotional trauma from being separated from her parents,  suggested she should be sent home to be with her parents. Satya was heartbroken. She begged Suku to let her stay, but he felt obligated to follow the doctor’s advice.

Once back at home Satya’s condition worsened.  Suku worried greatly about her.  She was so far away that Suku rarely got any news of how she was doing.  In the meantime, thanks to a generous donor, Rising Star Outreach was able to start a medical program with a mobile medical van that could go from colony to colony and offer medical assistance that the people in this area had never had access to before.

One of the first places that Suku sent the new medical team was to Satya’s colony.  He wanted to make sure she was getting better.  Unfortunately, the doctors returned with news that  Satya’s condition had worsened.  She had become terribly weak, and her fits were getting more frequent and more debilitating.  She was now bedridden, and unable to talk or to recognize anyone.

Panicked, Suku counseled with the doctors.  They all agreed Satya would need to go to the government hospital in Patna—another seven hours away.  Suku made the necessary arrangements, and Satya was admitted to the AIIMS Hospital in Patna.  Tests were ordered.  Medications and therapies were started.

Satya has shown remarkable resilience.  Thanks be to God, Satya is improving.  She is now back home with her parents and growing stronger each day.  She is anxious to get back to school.

How grateful we all are that Satya was at the Rising Star Outreach school.  Otherwise, she would not have had access to the medical intervention that has saved her life.  Her sister and brother are so grateful that her suffering is now being treated.  And we at Rising Star Outreach are grateful that no other child in her colony needs to continue to be exposed to contaminated water.

All of these blessings have been provided because of caring people who support our work.  Our work changes lives.  People live with dignity, instead of begging. Now thousands of people have access to clean water and toilets.  Children receive an education that will change the course not only of their lives, but the lives of generations.

During this most recent campaign more than 130 Meridian Readers have helped sponsor children at our new school in Bihar.  What an incredible blessing!  So many leprosy-affected families whose lives will never be the same—these families will now be filled with hope and possibility instead of with despair and suffering!!  We still need more sponsors for children on our waiting list.  I hope some more of you can join us in creating real change.

Please join with other Meridian readers in sponsoring a child (or children) by clicking here.