| Before Surgery | After Surgery |
 |
 |
Menaka Devi is the youngest daughter in her family. She was so humble and polite by nature. She had one elder sister and an elder brother. Her siblings were all married except Menaka. Her parents wanted Menaka also to get married soon. But due to their poor family condition, her parents couldn’t get her a right choice. After going through many profiles for her daughter, they selected one profile for her. In India, arranged marriages are very common and a custom followed. After many problems, they fixed up the marriage for Menaka with Lakshmanan. Lakshmanan is a coolie. Although Lakshmanan’s family liked Menaka, they demanded for dowry. As Menaka’s family is too poor they couldn’t afford for dowry. So the bride’s family hesitated for marriage, but at last they agreed for dowry and the marriage was conducted.
Days passed…. Menaka’s mother in law started quarreling with her and demanded for dowry. Her husband also pressurized her to get dowry. Menaka had no hopes. She couldn’t do anything. She knows her family status also. But, due to her critical situation she asked her parents but they couldn’t afford to it. What to do? In the meantime Menaka became pregnant. She gave birth to a boy baby, but unfortunately the baby died. This added more grief to Menaka. All her family members were so unhappy about this incident. But her mother in law and her husband shouted and quarreled with her. She felt so ashamed and guilty.
Few months after…. By god’s grace once again Menaka got pregnant. She was so happy that she’s going to yield a child. The doctor advised her to take scan. She took scan in her 7th month. She was scanned and came to know that the baby is with cleft lip/palate deformity. She became terrible upset and she couldn’t control her agony. Knowing this, her mother in law and her husband compelled her to abort the baby. They told that this baby is a curse to the family. Despite of this situation, she came to know about Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre’s Regional Centre for cleft lip/palate through one of the newspapers. Immediately she rushed to the hospital. She met Dr. N. Panchavarnan and consulted about this deformity.
The doctor explained about the deformity, the treatment, and the facilities available. He also explained that there is no fear about this deformity and it could easily be corrected. Moreover, he briefed about the free hospitalization for poor patients in the centre. Menaka was so happy in hearing this. She told her mother in law and husband that there is no need for abortion. The baby can be born safely. But they didn’t accept this. They again shouted at her like anything. Even though in this critical situation, the baby was born after three months with cleft lip/palate and named as Akarsana. As Menaka was aware of this deformity she was not shocked on seeing the baby, rather she was so happy that her baby was hale and healthy. But her husband and his mother made the problem worse and shouted at Menaka with bad words.
Menaka was so upset and she couldn’t approach anyone. Immediately after few weeks of her delivery she approached Meenakshi Mission’ Regional Centre for cleft lip/palate. She borrowed Rs. 2000/- @ 10% interest and went to the hospital. Once again she met Dr. N. Pancharvarnam and she loudly cried at him. The doctor consoled her and told there in nothing to worry about it and the baby would be fine soon. He also explained about the free surgical intervention at Meenakshi Mission, education and traveling grant given to the patients, free food, free drugs, free investigations, free speech therapy and free accommodation. The doctor advised to admit the baby after three months for surgery. Once after three months, Menaka brought the baby to the regional centre. The baby was corrected for cleft lip. All of her family members who cursed the baby felt very bad about them. Menaka’s mother in law felt happy and kissed and took the baby. As they hail from a very long distance to the hospital, the parents were given traveling allowance; free school bag for the baby. The entire family thanked the smile train team for their compassionate service. They were astonished to feel the services of the centre.
Menaka was advised to bring the child after six months for palatoplasty. Regularly Menaka come for her daughter’s check up to the regional centre. Now the baby is corrected for cleft palate also. But this time, the parents couldn’t avail travailing allowance even though they come from vast distance. They come from Tanjore one of the districts in Tamil Nadu, which is around 200kms to 250 kms from our hospital. But the parents felt that traveling allowance given by the centre is very much useful for poor patients like them. They also added that these kinds of services could further be continued for the sake of servicing many poor patients in the future. Today Menaka and her daughter Akarsana are so happy and thankful to the entire team who has given a happy and joyful life. Menaka got her beautiful daughter; she happily joined with her family. It is all because of the noble support services by the Smile Train USA and by the world class treatment given by Meenakshi Mission Hospital. Thus Smile Train not only helps in free services but also helps in bringing back beautiful families.