Shyam, a 62-year-old resident of the Mayapuri slum community for the past 40 years, moved to Delhi with her husband shortly after their marriage. Her husband found work as a laborer in a nearby factory,
earning minimal wages. Over the years, the couple had three children: two daughters and a son. All of their children were vaccinated at the Asha center. With whatever savings they had, Shyam and her husband married off their children. However, after marriage, the children distanced themselves, choosing to focus on their own families and neglecting their ageing parents.
Shyam regularly visited the Asha center for her diabetes and hypertension medicines. During one of the visits at Asha centre, Shyam shared that she was experiencing white discharge despite being post-menopausal. Vidya suggested she should visit the Asha center to consult Senior Nurse Practitioner, Shiny. Shiny provided her with medications and referred her to a government hospital, where she was diagnosed with first stage cervical cancer.
Heartbroken and facing community discrimination, Shyam found hope and support from the Asha family, where she gets a grocery bag every week to take care of her need for a nutritious and balanced diet. In an incredible act of generosity, the children of Bal Mandal pooled their savings to buy fruit, eggs, and daily necessities for her. They also helped with chores, creating a loving environment that lifted Shyam’s spirit and reminded her that she was not alone.
The Asha team also included her in the Geriatric “Love and Lunch” program. Since then, Shyam has found new hope, courage, and strength to battle her disease. She enjoys freshly prepared, healthy lunches served by the Asha team with love and compassion and cherishes the company of other elderly community members, which acts as a tonic for her. She often says, “My children may have abandoned me, but in Asha, I have found a family who has made me look forward to life with renewed vigour and joy. If Vidya and Shiny hadn’t intervened, I might never have known about my disease and would not have been able to get the treatment I needed. I know now that I am not alone. I am grateful and feel blessed to have such a wonderful Asha family who stand by me in this tough period.”
