Act of kindness gives new lease of life to sick IDP
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 02 2024: JNIMS Relief Committee and Relief Committee Manipur expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sridivya Bonam, group product manager at Google, Washington, for her extraordinary act of kindness that saved the life of one Laishram Memma, an internally displaced person (IDP), who lost her home amidst the burning of approximately 23 Meetei villages.

Memma, originally from Nghathal village in Churachandpur, currently resides at the Recent Higher Secondary School, Sagoltongba relief camp, in Imphal West district.

Her medical struggles began two years ago when she was diagnosed with appendicitis.

Act of kindness gives new lease of life to sick IDP

A series of cancelled surgeries at Churachandpur District Hospital and RIMS, combined with the trauma of her house being burned down, delayed her treatment and caused her health to deteriorate further, according to a JNIMS committee statement.

It informed that she eventually underwent surgery for appendicitis at RIMS but suffered severe post-operative complications, resulting in worsening of her condition due to hernia, and two surgeries at Bishnupur District Hospital.

Despite these efforts, her pain persisted.

On the recommendation of the local MLA, she sought treatment at JNIMS, where laparoscopic surgery was advised.

However, the hospital lacked functional equipment to perform the procedure, forcing referral to a private hospital, where the estimated cost of treatment exceeded Rs 1.3 lakh - a sum her family, having lost everything, could not afford.

A volunteer circulated Memma's plight on social media, which reached Bisoya Loitongbam, a Manipuri pursuing Chevening Gurukul Fellowship at Oxford.

Bisoya enquired JNIMS whether the surgery could be performed, to which the latter cited damaged light source in their laparoscopic equipment.

Determined to help, Bisoya reached out to her friend and former classmate, Sridivya Bonam, at the National Institute of Technology, Warangal.

Acknowledging the urgency, Sridivya donated the funds needed to purchase the equipment.

The laparoscopic endoscopy equipment was delivered and donated to JNIMS on November 7.Memma was admitted the same day, and on November 11, Dr Somorjit, head of surgery, successfully performed her operation.

Memma has since been discharged and is recovering well.

The donated equipment not only saved her life but has enabled JNIMS to perform approximately 30 surgeries to date, benefitting many others in need.

The JNIMS Relief Committee and Relief Committee Manipur praised Bisoya's vision of donating the equipment to the hospital, ensuring a lasting Impact rather than funding a one-time private hospital expense.

In a heartfelt X post, Bisoya expressed her gratitude: "My heartfelt thanks to my dear friend Sridivya, a truly beautiful soul, for her immense kindness and support for alleviating the pain of people she hardly knows but nevertheless cares about...

Her willingness to step up for strangers in need is deeply inspiring.

Some assume 1 contribute financially because I have plenty to spare.

That's far from true.

If a small financial adjustment on my part-paying slightly higher EMIs can alleviate suffering or save a life, that's the least I can do as a Manipuri".

"This extraordinary story of kindness and collaboration serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the transformative power of generosity during the most challenging times," conveyed JNIMS Relief Committee and The Relief Committee Manipur in a joint statement on Sunday, while calling upon all citizens to help the IDPs financially, physically and morally.