"All my belongings, including my medical documents and medicines, were swept away in flood waters. Only the clothes I was wearing were left. I was carried far away by the flood waters and almost got drowned under a big pipe. It was only Madam who searched for me and found me lying unconscious on the bridge. She got my medical documents made again, arranged for my medicines, and got me food ration also," recalled Surendra.
Priyanka had searched for him frantically. Eventually she found him after a few days in some faraway place alongside the elevated road, unconscious and shivering, wrapped in a plastic sheet.
"I used to follow up Surendra. Initially I did it daily. But as his condition improved it was once a week. When I went to him on one of the days, I found the whole area inundated with flood waters. People said that many had been washed away. I wondered if Surendra too was one of them. After 3 days of hopeless searching, I found him in a very bad condition. But I was relieved that I had at least been able to find him. I was so relieved. We save the photo of our patients in our phones. When I was looking for him, I showed his photo to the many people lying on the road. One of them recognised his face, and pointing in a particular direction he said that 'this man was lying there.' When I reached there, I found him lying unconscious wrapped in a plastic sheet. I woke him up. He said he had no food to eat, his medicines were also washed away, he was unable to walk. I told him not to worry, as I was there to try my best to help him," shared Priyanka.
She straightaway rushed to the TB clinic in Shastri Park hospital, met the doctor and told him about the predicament of her homeless patient. The doctor and other healthcare workers all came forward to help Surendra. They gave her his medicine supplies, new documents were made, and also a Poshan Potli (a bag full of food grains). Priyanka also sought help to arrange some clothes for him.
Priyanka's yeo(wo)man service brought Surendra back to life
Surendra is hugely obliged to Priyanka: "I owe my life to Madam (Priyanka). she has done a lot for me. She got all my tests done. She would collect the medicines for me from the health centre, as I was too weak to stand in the queue for long. Her unflinching support gave me courage. I started regaining my confidence and determination to get well. I would take my medicines regularly on time. On her insistence I even left alcohol. This took immense efforts, but once I left it, I never went back. Now I feel much better. And the entire credit goes to Madam, who gave me a new lease of life. If I had not met her, I would have died, even before starting the treatment. It was only due to her continuous support that I could complete my 6 months long treatment and defeat TB."
He added: "I do feel giddy at times. I also cough sometimes, especially in the mornings. Perhaps that is due to my habit of smoking bidis. My body aches if I walk for long or lift heavy load. Ragpicking is hard work. But it is my only source of income, so I cannot leave it," added Surendra, who is back to his arduous job of ragpicking.
Even after completing the treatment, when a need so arises, Surendra calls Priyanka to get nutritional support and receives it as possible.
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