Keya's Life-Changing Intervention
- Donna Shively
- May 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 12
Keya is just 11 years old.
She lives in Banjara Basti, where the homes are made of little more than hope. Her own house is a plastic tent, just 10 by 15 feet. It has no windows, no electricity, no bathroom, just a small entrance gate that lets in a little light, and even less air.Keya lives here with her parents and three siblings. Her father works as a daily wage laborer, earning just enough to feed his family—but never enough to dream.
Five years ago, Keya developed a small lump near her ear. It didn’t hurt, so the family didn’t worry. But over the last year, the lump began to grow quickly and visibly. It became impossible to hide—and impossible to ignore. The other children in her neighborhood started to stare. Some pointed, others laughed.
“What’s wrong with your ear?” they would ask—repeatedly. Keya couldn’t take it. She stopped going out to play. She stayed inside their dark tent, away from the laughter, away from the sunlight. She sat by herself for hours, too ashamed to be seen, and the world grew smaller, as the lump grew bigger.
During a Save Kids Trust (SKT) health meeting, Keya’s condition came to light when SKT staff visited the family and explained the need for medical help. But the family was hesitant. They believed that surgery might make things worse, or that the lump would spread. They had never been to a hospital, and the thought of it terrified them. And more than anything, they simply couldn’t afford it.
But SKT didn’t give up. Week after week, we kept visiting, reassuring the family, answering their questions, slowly building trust. After one long month of patient counseling, Keya’s parents finally said yes.
SKT staff held their hands—literally and emotionally as we accompanied them to the hospital. At the hospital, all necessary tests were done. The result brought a wave of relief: the lump was benign—non-cancerous. And healthcare is free in Jaipur if you know how to access it. So surgery costs and medicines would be free or very low cost.
With the help of SKT Director Dr Rinku Saini, Keya was admitted to the government children’s hospital, and the surgery was performed safely and successfully. She stayed in the hospital for a few days. The SKT team visited her, cheered her up, and helped her feel brave. And then—just like that—the lump was gone.
Today, Keya is smiling again! She plays with the other children, just like she used to—only this time, without fear. No one points, no one laughs. Her shame has disappeared along with the lump. Keya is happy, free, and full of life. Her parents, who once lived in fear, are now filled with gratitude. “We could never have done this alone,” said Keya’s father, eyes filled with emotion.
Keya is just one of many children who suffer silently—because of poverty, stigma, and fear. But with compassionate outreach, trust, and support, lives can be changed. Save Kids Trust believes that every child deserves health, dignity, and the simple joy of childhood.
