Keep a Child Alive

Day 17 - Savitri : A Life Rebuilt

Keep a Child Alive seeks to empower and enrich our patient’s lives as a whole, hence our motto of “life beyond the pill.” Many of our patients seek more than relief from their illness, but a chance to begin their life anew and leave the devastation of their past behind them. Such is the case of one of Sahara Aalhad Care Home’s many success stories: Savitri.

At 14-years-old, Savitri was forced to marry a man six years older, a practice that is often customary in India. Previously diagnosed as an epileptic, she was instructed by her family to keep her illness a secret for fear of retaliation on behalf of her in-laws. Having no say in the matter, she moved in with her new husband and his family and she was abused and ostracized. Scared and alone, her husband’s family discovered she was epileptic and sent her back to her father’s house.

At fifteen, Savitri’s mother passed away and she became the caretaker of the household. After suffering an epileptic seizure that badly burning her face, Savitri’s family encouraged her to get a divorce. She decided that the only way to secure her future was to become pregnant. Her former husband agreed and when Savitri was eighteen-years-old her son, Avinash, was born. Excited to have a grandson, her husband’s family allowed her to move back to their home but the abuse continued and she fled back to her father’s house.
She fell severely ill and discovered that she had contracted HIV from her husband. Having no knowledge of the virus, she was informed of the gravity of its implications and contemplated suicide. Learning that her son was HIV-negative motivated her to stay alive. In 2007, she was referred to Sahara where, after treatment, she began to recover and rebuild her life. Sahara taught her skills and trades that allowed her to become financially independent and able to provide for herself and her son.

In 2009 she fell ill again and was re-admitted to Sahara. It was there that she met Ravi, and the two fell in love and married. After her marriage, her ex-husband threatened to take her child away and her family disowned her. However, Savitri had a new family of her own and renewed hope for the future.

Thanks to her determined spirit and the assistance of Sahara, today she, her husband, and Avinash are alive and thriving. Avinash considers Ravi his father and Savitri says that she is happy wither her marriage. “I told him that I lived without a man for eleven years,” she says, “so even if he leaves me, life will go on. But there is a lot of love in our marriage. We do fight with each other sometimes, but in the end, we always make up and feel as much in love with each other as before.” Savitri and her family are yet another example of why we do what we do at Keep a Child Alive.

See all of our Daily Inspirations.