A few steps forward

Good news.

Vishranti is better. A lot better.

Some of you gentle readers may remember the apparently hopeless situation Vishranti was in 2 months ago. We took a deep breath and sent her and her sister and mother to CMC Vellore for psychiatric treatment and therapy.

Last week the wonderful treating doctor called up. Full of old-world charm, this amazing lady told us that Vishranti was really recovering well - and that the treatment and counselling for her and her mother showed amazing progress - and that it seems all the electric shocks and other treatment modalities that she had received in the previous months do not seem to have had long-term damage to her.

She is ready to come back.

The question is where will she come back to?

Over and over again we face this challenge when our dear friends are helped in some of the wonderful institutions of healing and rehabilitation. After the course is over, then what?

How to get back to the sticky, messy place where Vishranti came from? The villagers have told Vishranti's brother that under no circumstances do they want her back. The last time they assaulted her. Living with her mother is anyway not what she wants to do. She has 2 children and her estranged husband too.

So with the wonderful improvement in Vishranti's mental health - we now have the challenge of moving her forward. The treating physicians at CMC have suggested that she stay with her sister for some time. That means coming here, since Vishranti's sister is one of our JSK staff. They also suggested that she be given some light work to keep her occupied and increase her confidence.

We expect the phone to ring any time and hear Vishranti's sister tell us which train they are arriving on. For us, it means organising a new place for them to stay. Finding out a suitable place for Vishranti to work/serve. Exploring long-term options for both.

Never a dull moment! And aren't we glad for it!