Donate A Urinary Catheter To Give The Physically Challenged Individuals A Better Life!

Can you imagine being confined to a bed? Can you imagine not being able to do anything and depending on someone entirely for everything? While this might sound hard for people like us to read, it’s the reality that many challenged people go through each day. Lalith was diagnosed with a rare neuro disorder, Transverse Myelitis at a tender age of 11. 

In simple terms, Transverse Myelitis means that Lalith’s motor and commanding nerves around the spinal cord were badly affected. This meant he couldn’t move as he could before, and he also lost his bowel & bladder control.

At a fragile age where he could be playing with the other children, Lalith was confined to his bed for five long years. 

It was in 2009, when he started his HR consultancy that he started helping others suffering from spinal cord disabilities. Many of them don't have bowel and bladder control. So, he started his work by giving them urinary catheters and urine bags each costing over Rs 500 for free. He started Love and Acceptance, an NGO that works for people with mobility and spinal cord disabilities on his birthday, June 12, 2014.  

Love and Acceptance were formed with Lalith’s belief that disability is not a person’s identity.

Many of these individuals who are physically challenged have a tough life. They often have to depend on others for their basic needs. It can be embarrassing and emotionally hurt them especially when it’s related to their personal hygiene habits. 

One of our team members, Akil visited a beneficiary for a testimony along with Lalith. They went down to the lady’s house with a pack of adult diapers and sanitary pads. It was quite late in the evening, and when they were about to leave, Kamala thanked them for coming.

She said, "For you, these might be mere diapers and sanitary pads, but for us, it is life. Life with dignity." 

She went on to explain how much it means to her, "I don't have control over my bowel and bladder system. The worst would happen during my periods. The bed would have stained in blood, and by the time help arrives, I would have pooped too". 

On hearing this, Akil’s tongue had gone dry, and his legs started to feel weird. But she wasn't done yet, "At times I wouldn't be aware of what has happened, and the ants would be all over the place." A wave of empathy struck him, and his legs refused to move. Akil could also relate to the pain and misery that Kamala faced. 

It dawned on us that there are thousands of individuals who are suffering from similar incidents. They too, deserve a life filled with dignity. After the Corona pandemic broke out, many of these individuals were struggling to make ends meet. They couldn’t bear the expense of adult diapers and urinary catheters. Love and Acceptance, has been helping thousands of individuals live a better life, a life with dignity.