I am Vandu a carefree, bubbly, chirpy, happy go lucky mother, a BBA graduate, studying mass communication and public speaking. Without any idea about what marriage was, I got married at the age of 22 once my examinations were over. And suddenly, I entered a new world where everything had to be perfect. It was a difficult time but somehow I managed everything. After 2 & half years, I got pregnant. Everything went smooth during my pregnancy.
On my due date 28th October 2006 (Saturday), I met my doctor who was probably on a weekend mode, said, “let’s meet on Monday”. On Monday morning, around 10 AM he admitted me and induced labour. Then he did NST. The fetal heartbeats were a little low. I asked him about it. He said nothing to worry. Around 3 in the afternoon again NST was done which showed heartbeats went to 80. They immediately rushed me to the OT saying its fetal distress because the cord is wrapped twice around the baby’s neck.
After some time when I heard my baby’s cry, I got worried and asked him what’s the matter. But he said nothing, don’t worry! While they kept her my baby in the care unit my husband and his aunt got suspicious. When they saw that my child was not able to cry or breathe properly, his aunt who was from Surat called an ambulance from a famous hospital. A doctor from Surat came along with the ambulance. He said that this case is critical, we’ll have to shift the baby immediately to the ICU. I didn’t even get to see her. She was kept on oxygen support and in the ambulance my husband went along. My baby was kept on ventilator. And when I repeatedly asked, I was answered that she’ll be back soon. After 5 days, when I was discharged from the hospital, I straightaway headed from Navsari to Surat. And that’s when I got to see my daughter Khushi finally.. Before I met her I was informed that she’s not responding well and she’s completely on artificial support. I went inside with a heavy heart and was shocked to see my little one in such a condition. I kissed her forehead ( the only place that was left free from injections) And she gradually opened her left eye then slowly the right eye.Tears rolled down my cheeks. When I looked around for the nursing staff and the Medical Officer standing there, they cried with joy. They couldn’t believe she responded that’s miraculous!!!!
Yes, nature has its own ways to make us realise that love makes miracles happen.
I stayed in the hospital. She was gradually shifted to oxygen and rhen in the room. After 32 days they gave her in my hands but while was in the room. And informed me that “mummy, your baby is not a normal child, at the time of birth if a child doesn’t gets the first oxygen properly, the brain doesn’t give proper signals to the body and it effects the overall development of the child. She had a condition called laryngomalacia which means that the child will have problem in swallowing, sucking and chewing issues. Not only this but that my daughter has 2 holes in her heart too. I will have to go for physio, speech, occupational and vision therapy for this child. Also, get a genetic test done in Mumbai when you can manage to come up with her.I’m not sure if she’ll recognize her mother also”… At 7 months, she was also diagnosed with ‘cri-du-chat syndrome’ through the genetic test ‘karyotyping’. And then my journey began..
From that day, I started working with her, feeding her. Helped getting her physio, speech, occupational, vision therapy and special education. When she was 9 months old I was told by Dr. Asha Chitnis (Mumbai) that Khushi has a flat foot on left and an arc on right… She will never be able to walk without splints but I trusted my local doctor n got her shoes modified. Every year the modified shoes became costlier, so I learnt the certified shoe designing course to modify shoes by myself.
Except physiotherapy, Navsari lacked all these therapies. So, I went to Surat and Mumbai frequently for these sessions, Khushi showed immense growth and progress in all the areas except her feeding issues. I landed up in depression when she was 4 years old but came out of it very soon with the support of my husband, sister and mom in law. And this time we stayed with the therapist, learnt swallowing therapy, started attending workshops n seminars on all the therapies and special education courses. We trained her at home.
Today she’s in a normal school n copes up with 50-60%. She can’t write but the school staff co- operates n we design the worksheet where she only has only circle n match or verbally answer n that also at her pace.
What I learnt in the process is always trust yourself and your child. The bond you share is immensely divine and can do miracles.
Meanwhile, I counsel and help other parents of special children, whatever I’ve learnt from my experience. I make a blend of all therapies which can help that particular child. And I am a story teller. I attend workshops and parenting seminars. I also participate in doodling workshops, rangoli exhibitions. Doing all such things keeps me rejuvenated. And yes, I delivered my twin baby boys in April 2015. So I am happy in my own little world with my trio Khushi, Rumi Ruhaan.
Much much much love to you all !!!!
A proud special parent.
— Vandu Malani —