Life has not been easy recently for Ava’s (not her real name), but without the support of Calcutta Rescue, she might have lost her life, not just her leg.
The 58-year-old widow was cured of leprosy by CR three years ago, but it left her with significant damage to both feet which needed regular dressings. She also has diabetes and high blood pressure.
Ava lives in a shack around 14 km away from Calcutta Rescue Nimtala clinic with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchild.
“Ava regularly visited the clinic for her wound care, diabetes and hypertension medicines. But then she stopped coming to the clinic and we gave her family a call. Thank goodness we did.” said Partha, supervisor of Nimtala clinic.
Ava’s wounds had started to smell putrid, said Dr Ghosh, head of CR’s medical team. “The moment we heard it, we asked for immediate hospitalisation.”
Calcutta Rescue staff and her son went from one hospital to another but none would admit her, and Ava’s situation deteriorated further. As a last resort, Dr Ghosh managed to get her admitted as an emergency case. Tests revealed her blood sugar levels were very low and she was given saline water and blood transfusions.
After she was stable, her wounds were checked by the doctors. Partha said: “The wounds had become very bad. The doctor’s verdict was to amputate her right leg.”
The surgery was a success and CR is now diligently dressing her wounds.
Dr Ghosh said: “The high blood sugar level is the cause of her wounds turning almost fatal if the leg was not amputated at the right time. After her wounds are cured we plan to provide her with an artificial limb so that she can move around.”
Ava’s son, Kiran (name changed) said: “Calcutta Rescue was with us through everything. If they did not help us with the hospitalisation, surgery cost, medicine and dressings, I probably would not have gotten my mother back. I am grateful. Thank you.”
