My Life's Journey

My life’s journey began on December 30, 1988, when I was born with spina bifida meningocele, a life-threatening birth condition.

My parents were advised by the doctor shortly after I was born that I needed immediate surgery to remove a cyst on my spine. The cyst contained cerebrospinal fluid, which would accumulate over time and eventually burst if not surgically removed.

The next day, my parents took me from South Goa to Goa Medical College (GMC), the most prestigious hospital in Goa, India. They were then advised to travel to Mumbai because no doctor could undertake this complex surgery.

My parents had been going to doctors and hospitals since the beginning, but due to various factors, the surgery could not be performed.

According to the doctors, I would either die during surgery or the fluid from the cyst would transfer to my brain, which would result in severe health issues. I also had several health issues like jaundice and diarrhoea, which added to the risk. Thus, my parents decided not to go through with the surgery and left my fate in the hands of God.

For about 9 months, the cyst kept growing in size, and my mother took all the necessary precautions to ensure that the cyst didn’t burst. However, one day, the cyst did burst and an emergency surgery was performed.

Being physically disabled, not only do I use a pair of crutches and a wheelchair to move around at home, but I also have to rely on urinal aids due to a lack of bladder control.