How could he on a monthly salary of Rs. 3000/- manage this titanic task of getting his beloved Adnan back to normal health?

The first ray of hope emanated from his employer who volunteered to pay Rs. 50,000/-

Some one in Mahim suggested that he should approach MESCO, an organization which helps such cases. 11^th July 1999, is a date he will remember for his entire life. Not only he got assistance of Rs. 25,000/- but he was also guided to various other trusts and individuals who helped him handsomely.

Little Adnan lay on the operating table of another reputed private hospital and was operated by a surgeon with a kind heart (he had waived his operation fees) and little Adnan’s tiny heart was repaired.

Now little Adnan can enjoy his life to the fullest because he was guided to various organizations by MESCO. It was Providence at work !

NEVER    LOOSE   HOPE

The dark clouds peeped through the bright sky on the Khadilkars.

The only surviving child, Master Tanmay aged 3 years was diagnosed to be a case of Congenital Heart Disease. The couple, Mrs. Samira a housewife and Mr. Sitaram Khadilkar, had lost 3 children due to miscarriage syndrome.

According to the cardiologist at H. N. Hospital, Tanmay’s only chance of survival was an Intra Cardiac Repair surgery. The cost of surgery was Rs. 65,000/-. The couple could not afford the expense as Mr. Khadilkar was the only earning member, working in a garment manufacturing unit on a salary of Rs. 2500/- p.m.

The Khadilkars approached MESCO with tears rolling down their eyes. The case was investigated as per the organizations rules and was found to be suitable and deserved help.

This case was advertised by MESCO in Mid-day on behalf of the Khadilkars. Tanmay was lucky. His parents’ prayers were heard. Mumbaikars responded positively to the advertisement.

Tanmay was successfully operated on 2^nd August, 1999 at H. N. Hospital. Today Tanmay is in Nursery and sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Tanmay himself is the Twinkling star of the eyes of Aai and Baba.

Health  is   Wealth

Mr. Vikram*, originally hailing from Haryana and now settled in Dombivli, was a student of Std. XI Science. Due to illness, he could not cope with his studies. Hence his performance level was not up to the mark.

His father approached various local doctors, for his treatment. As per the guidance of his family doctor, he approached a cardiologist at P. D. Hinduja Hospital where he advised to undergo a thorough medical check-up.

On investigation, he was found to be a case of Aortic regurgitation, which needed Aortic Valve Replacement. The total cost of the surgery worked out to Rs. 1,50,000/-, which was beyond his father’s capacity. As his family consisted of 6 members of which he was the only earning member, working in an industrial unit on a salary of Rs. 2000/-. Someone from his friend circle suggested about the charitable trusts, (one of which was MESCO) providing medical assistance for the poor and needy. He applied to MESCO and was guided to other trusts as well. Due to his own efforts and help from several trusts, his need was fulfilled.

Vikram was operated. Now he is studying in F.Y.B.Sc. and in his first semester scored a first class. With the improvement in his health, his academic performance has improved.

In  the  driving  seat

Mr. Kasam Khan* aged 42 lived a reasonably carefree life as he was working as a driver at Saudi Arabia till he suddenly fell ill. He had to leave the job and return back to India. Various investigations were done at P. D. Hinduja Hospital, where he was diagnosed to be a case of END STAGE RENAL FAILURE. Whatever he had saved was exhausted in the investigation and treatment. After a few months, his family and himself became totally dependent on relatives.

He was on HEMODIALYSIS under a competent Nephrologist. The charge for one month’s dialysis worked out in the range of Rs. 12,000/- to Rs. 15,000/-, which was quite high for him to bear. He approached various trusts including MESCO for aid. He was sanctioned three months dialysis cost from MESCO.

During the course of visits to MESCO, he was guided and counseled for KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SURGERY. Only due to his persistence, one of his relatives agreed to donate him his kidney. All his belongings were sold in the earlier treatment and once again he was in need of monetary help for surgery.

He again knocked MESCO’s door, with great hope. His case was reconsidered. He was once again assisted with a suitable amount towards Kidney Transplant. The surgery was successfully performed on 26^th August,  at the same hospital.

Today, even though he is on Anti Rejection Drugs, he is again working as a driver and able to support his family.

EDUCATION  (Educational  Adoption  Scheme)

*Syed Rafat: One morning  one of our Committee members gets a call from the Principal of an Urdu Medium School, requesting us to take up a topper from her school under our Educational Adoption Scheme (EAS), she assures that the student is very hardworking but comes from a very poor family and would certainly not be sent to college if MESCO or some other Charitable Trust did not intervene. The student fills up an application form. MESCO staff visits her residence on  to check the veracity of the case and this is what he observes:

Rafat stays in a very narrow hut which is in a bad shape. Rafat’s father, Mr. Zahid aged 50 years used to work as a labourer in an Automobile Spare Parts shop earning Rs. 700/-p.m. until a year back, when the shop was sold off and he has since been rendered jobless being illiterate. He still does odd jobs to fend for his family, whose condition is pathetic.

His wife is also illiterate and spends most of the day taking care of her large family consisting of 3 daughters and 2 sons. The eldest daughter Rafat 18 years old has scored 78.5% marks at her XII (Sc.) and topped in her college, the next daughter Kaneez Fatima aged 13 years is studying in Std. IX in the same school, the third daughter, Tabassum (10 years) is a student of a Municipal (very sub standard) School nearby. The next in line, Master Roshan (8 years) is also a student of the Municipal School and the last (son) Master Rizwan aged (5 years) has not been enrolled in school due to abject poverty. The hut is very old and narrow and does not have even the necessary utensils, there is no furniture not even a bed or cupboard, things are kept in a few bags; the family uses very old clothes, poverty was visible everywhere. Rafat gives tuitions to many children of the locality to earn (a small amount that provides) livelihood for the family."

Rafat was finally inducted into the EAS in 1987 and MESCO Committee managed to secure admission for her in a good college (Sophia College) run by Christian Missionaries (Sisters). She was also encouraged and enrolled for Conversational English Classes; both the college fees, conversational class fees and 2 sets of clothes were provided for by MESCO. She was guided & counseled through her three years of undergraduate studies at the college. She put in a lot of hard work and in the history of the college for the first time a vernacular medium student topped the college in Microbiology at all the three years of under graduate studies, as also at the University exams. Rafat scored a high first class at her degree university exam, and, on the basis of her result, was granted admission for M.Sc. (on merit). She scored a first in M.Sc. Part-I, but due to her research project not doing too well she managed to get only a high second class in the M.Sc. Part-II. Unfortunately the same year that she was doing her M.Sc. Part-II, her hut caved in. MESCO came to her rescue for reconstruction of the hut and paid Rs. 10,000/- for the same.

Armed with an M.Sc. this young girl of 22 who had always struggled this far now was going to see better days. She applied for a lecturer’s job at a college in the suburbs of Bombay and was selected out of over 12 candidates who had come for the interview.

She was soon drawing a salary 10 times that she had received that far, and saw to it that she educated her other brothers & sisters. Her second sister Kaneez Fatima completed her degree in Commerce while Tabassum did a course in tailoring. Both the brothers have also been educated and are currently employed.

However with all this she still continued to stay in the small hut but with furniture and some other basic necessities of life. MESCO's well wishers Mr. Qureishi from Albuquerque, U.S. on his annual visit to Bombay, had suggested that he would like to help one or two deserving educated persons by providing a simple dwelling place costing a lakh to 1.5 lakhs. MESCO members took him to visit Rafat at the slum colony at Dharavi-Sion, where she stayed. Mr. Qureishi was so moved by her condition that he decided on the spot to help her. He bought her a flat (near the college where she was lecturing), within 4 months of his decision. Rafat and her family moved into the flat except for the father who had died in 1996. Now Rafat is married and recently blessed with a baby boy.

*Nida Shaikh: Nida’s father used to work at Kamla Mills but after the strike and the mill being closed down in 1983 he was without a job except did some odd jobs at a Bakery nearby to fend for his family.

Nida was a bright kid having scored 77.28% at her S.S.C. Board exams, when she was inducted into the EAS. She almost gave up studies when her result at Std. XII (Science) did not turn out to be good enough to give her a seat in Medicine which field she was keen to pursue. It was regular counseling, guidance and encouragement that made her agree to take up Social Work as the next choice at a well known institution, Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work.

Initially she was hesitant and not sure if she had taken the right decision by choosing social work as a career - but a few months into the course, she was almost certain that was the career that she would do if given the opportunity to choose again. She topped not only her institution but at the University at the degree level and also later topped the University at the post graduate level, M.A. (Social Work).

Writes Nida  – ‘I was a student of science with great ambition of being somebody in the field of medicine - getting low marks was a blow for me and another twist of fate which introduced me in the field of Social Work. It was the blessings of God Almighty, active support & encouragement of my parents & siblings and MESCO members that I never repented my decision. Though very often there were dark clouds surrounding me, making me feel, that survival in this profession was difficult, future then seemed bleak, but with fierce, determination and hard work, I was through it; now there is no ambiguity as to what I want to do in future.’

Nida is the fourth child of Mr. Mohd. Hafiz who has 3 daughters and 2 sons, Nida’s eldest sister dropped out after Std XI. A younger sister completed her Unani medicine, her 2 brothers have since completed their graduation. One is employed as a Computer Operator and another is in Readymade Garment Business all due to Nida’s efforts.

Nida who had been on EAS- support for 7 years, is now on a Ph.D Scholarship to the U.K. She worked in the Woman’s Cell attached to several Police Stations in Mumbai after her M.S.W.and was awarded a scholarship for doing her Ph.D. at Sussex Univsersity in London.

* Names changed in all cases to maintain confidentiality

We, at MESCO request to all our brothers and sisters all over the world to assist us by giving us DONATION for the conduct of our programmes.