One Family’s Decade-Long Journey

In 2012, Maryam and Hitesh had five children; 2 sons and 3 daughters (they had already lost another child). Two of these children were struggling with a ‘shaking’ disease. The family did not understand why their children were sick or what to do to help them. Maryam had lost hope for her family.

Dr. Sharwan was introduced to the family from a friend who knew his work and knew the struggle of the family. He went to the family’s home to see if he could help. After many tests, the diagnosis for the sick children was a rare genetic disorder called Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy. Medication and vocation intervention eased the symptoms and made life more comfortable.

Save Kids Trust helped build on the family’s abilities by providing set-up funds for a ‘daily-use’* booth. Run by the women of the family, the eldest boy could use his wheelchair while negotiating at the store and proved to be quite a businessman! But this medical and vocational intervention could not stop the disease, and within a few years, two more of her children died.

Ten years later, during a street clinic in their area, Dr. Saini was greeted by Maryam and her remaining daughters who are now all grown up. To the delight of everyone, they introduced their newest family addition – a boy!

The women of the family have continued to work and provide economic stability for themselves and their newly growing family through what is now a small store! Congratulations are in order for this decade old business!

These types of interventions, both medically and economically, are examples of how supporting struggling people can break the cycle of poverty.

*Daily-use is how day wage earners make ends meet. They can purchase anything in very small packet quantities that enables them to purchase just what they need for the day. ​