A TRUE FIGHTER

If you derive inspiration from Lance Armstrong’s heroic comeback from the deathbed or from Barrack Obama’s rise to the White House, here is story which is in some ways is no less a bravado.
NAME: SWASTI WAGH
AGE: 35
QUALIFICATION: M.Sc
PROFESSION: TEACHING
This looks to be a profile of a pretty ordinary lady. No. she is not an ordinary lady. She is a patient of ataxia; a progressive degenerative disorder, but she makes things look ordinary.
Swasti, a science post graduate, first felt the tentacles of ataxia (read more about ataxia http://www.ataxia.org/learn/ataxia-diagnosis.aspx) engulfing her when she was in her college. So rare is the outset of this disease that medical fraternity itself isn’t well-versed with its symptoms and diagnosis. Very obviously it took a long time before it was exactly identified. Progressively; in accordance with its characteristics, this cureless disorder took a toll on her bodily co-ordination until she became dependent on other for her daily activities and movement. She is fortunate enough that her speech isn’t affected badly. According to her family, she was unflinchingly determined to complete her post graduate studies. After her studies it was kind of impossible for her to pursue a career. But she didn’t let her disability disable her. Rather, she took to teaching children and she earns decent money with it.
All this while, she and her family were looking for a possible treatment. Unperturbed by the quagmire she was struck in, what she did next is truly commendable. Apart from taking on her battle, she decided to help other ataxia patients. Thanks to social networking sites and some database with doctors, she caught hold of about 80 patients in Indore and adjoining districts. She tirelessly contacted these patients and urged them to meet and interact because she feels this is the only way of subsiding the agony of the disease, physically and mentally, where similar people can share their hardships and also involve in activities such as speech therapy, physiotherapy etc. She was also proactively in touch with SAMAG; a Hyderabad based NGO which helps ataxia patients. Finally, her endurance fruited and with the help of SAMAG(http://www.samataxiagroup.org/pages/ataxiainformation.html), she created the Indore chapter at a meeting held at Nath Mandir on 23 Feb 18. ataxia patients and their relatives from Ujjain, Dewas, Mhow, Shujalpur, Hoshangabad participated in the meet. Although, the number was not very encouraging, still it was heartening enough.
Some prominent names in the medical profession like Dr. Apurva Puranik, Dr. Sudhir Kothari, and Dr. Deepak Nair etc. were present and encouraged patients to fight ataxia with will power. Swasti spoke and maintained her stance about remaining optimistic.
Swasti, a daughter a mathematics professor, hopes that more ataxia patients will join the support group and expects successful frequent meetings. The main hurdle to such activities is the inability of patients to move. This impairs the possibility of the strength catching high. Swasti expects some NGO’s and self-help groups who can volunteer to arrange such activities, as man power is also an important aspect. Swasti is in Hyderabad (SAMAG headquarter) while this article is written. It becomes imperative for us, the so-called normal people, to come forward and help her in her mission. This is a request to all government, doctors, educators, NGO’s, administrators, intellectuals and all others to help SAMAG and Swasti achieve their vision. A small deed of yours can bring light to someone’s life.