You managed to #savemona. She still needs funds for long-term care.

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Updates (14)

On the 29th of April, 26 year-old domestic worker Shakuntala Gayan Sardar, fondly known as Mona, suffered an ischemic stroke. She is also eight months pregnant, and suffering from dengue as well as a severe urinary tract infection.

Right now, Mona is battling for her life in the ICU at St. John's hospital in Bangalore. The doctors do not know whether she or her baby will survive - and if they do, what the long term implications will be for either of them.

Mona comes from a poor family that lives in a village in rural West Bengal. She married a man her family did not approve of; she and Kamal, her husband, have therefore been outcast from their community, and have no family support at all.

Every little bit you can donate will help.

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7th July 2016

Dear Supporters,

This final #savemona update is made in her own words: https://www.facebook.com/suman.bolar/videos/10153735306241616/

Mona was not expected to live. Nor was her baby. At various points, we were told that if she did survive, she may not be able to see, hear, talk, walk, or use her right arm.

Thanks to your support, Keya was born healthy and Mona was able to fight hard.

But she emerged from her ordeal unable to speak, with partial loss of vision, mild brain damage, and paralysis of the right arm. Dr. Radhika Poovayya ofSamvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing referred Mona to Dr. Prathiba Sharan's Newro, A Comprehensive Neuro Rehabilitation Centre. In under two weeks, her fabulous team has already worked magic.

A golden-hearted woman took Keya in and cared for her unquestioningly for six long weeks. Others ensured that Keya had everything she needed, from clothes to formula, to bedding and towels. Thanks to Dr. Kiran Kinger, Keya is doing well - she is thriving in the arms of her mom (we will still require formula and diapers on an ongoing basis!)

Mona surprised us (and gave us a collective heart attack!) by travelling from Koramangala to the therapy clinic at Okalipuram ALONE in a bus. She stayed connected to her husband Kamal over the phone, but successfully managed the journey alone. Both ways.

Thank you so much for helping her to get to where she is today. She is still undergoing daily cognitive therapy (and as of now, will need ongoing therapy over several months) and her ability to earn a livelihood is still a matter of concern, but she's alive, Keya's alive, and we are eternally grateful.

None of this would have been possible without the compassion and support of Anoj Viswanathan and the team at Milaap (shoutout to Dhruv Chawda, who held my hand pretty much every day!)

Please share so everyone who donated/is donating so generously can see what a difference they have made. Forgive me the overly long post!

30th June 2016

Dear Supporters,
The journey continues!

Keya is doing well, bonding with her biomom an biodad. Her foster mom is missing her terribly!

Mona has been assessed by Dr. Prathiba Sharan of PRS Neurosciences and Mechatronics Research Institute. The verdict is that cognitive therapy will form the most critical component of Mona's recovery. She must receive intensive, daily 3-hr therapy sessions for a month or so, followed by biweekly follwups for up to four months thereafter. In addition to the cost of therapy, Mona and Kamal need to pay for transportation to and from the center. Kamal is still unable to earn a livelihood because Mona cannot be left alone with Keya.

Your continued support will ensure that Kamal,Mona,and Keya are able to sustain themselves through this last mile of recovery, and will give them a leg-up on the next phase of their journey as a family.

Thank you !

23rd June 2016

Dear Supporters,
Mona was taken to Samvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing in Hebbal and assessed by the excellent speech therapy team there.

Although Mona may never regain 100% of her speech, the damage is not as bad as we had feared. It is mostly muscular damage (to the muscles of the tongue, the larynx and the lips) with some amount of cognition and language loss as well. The muscular damage can be repaired to a great extent with adequate speech therapy. Cognitive therapy will also help her immensely. Mona's bigger battle, however, will be regaining the use of her right arm so she can take good care of Keya. She will need extensive physiotherapy to make this happen.

Do continue to donate - we are almost at goal now!