Samira

Newborn baby Samira arrived at PALNA through the cradle at our gates in July 2013. She was in a precarious state of health. Severely underweight and with multiple medical complications including Craniosynostosis, the doctors were in dilemma as to how to save the child. The afflictions were both diverse and critical and it was a great challenge to balance the distinctive treatments in such a young baby. Their first priority was to stabilise her.

Samira settled, but soon enough, quite expectedly, we observed that Samira wasn't making her milestones. Rolling over, sitting standing and walking were just too difficult for her. Surgery and intensive therapeutic interventions were applied and at last in the following few months, Samira exhibited some response. We were greatly encouraged and we persevered on.

At 22 months of age, Samira caught up!  Her fine motor ability almost matched up with her peers and it was a marvel to watch her stack rings on a peg, slowly turn pages of a book, and pick rice grains with a tip-to- tip grasp! The smile her little face when she made such conquests, was our greatest gratification and we fully shared each of her achievements!  We are proud to add that speech stimulation enabled Samira to speak in monosyllables, and we hope she will continue her remarkable progress.

We were absolutely delighted when a family chose to adopt Samira, knowing all her issues, and make her their own. She is now part of her own loving family and home.

We believe Samira's story is also our story. That of our determination which yet again dealt desperate odds. Even the Maker could not look away.