No illness could crush Sai Laksmi’s spirit to survive!
Sai Lakshmi was born with several developmental issues. She was enrolled in Sri Arunodayam when she was two months old.
At the time, she had tuberculosis. Her muscles were limp and she was bedridden. Her body was tiny and weak and she had no control over her head movements.
The orphanage helped Sai Lakshmi by getting her all the medical attention that she needed. Soon, she was cured of TB. Regular exercises also helped her gain head control.
She is now a little over two years old. She can sit for long periods and even walk with a baby walker. A therapist is working with her to strengthen her hip and abdomen muscles. She also has a tumor on her brain stem that needs treatment.
Sai Lakshmi came to the orphanage in a painful condition. Her progress has been significant but she still has ways to go to completely recover. She could undergo so many treatments only because she had a constant supply of nutrition to sustain her weak body.
You can contribute to help a child like Sai Lakshmi get the food they need to withstand intensive treatment. You can give with confidence because every program on our platform is GIVEASSURED. Your contribution could give a poor child the only chance they have for recovery.
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What the beneficiary gets
Program Description
Sri Arunodayam undertakes care and rehabilitation of orphaned and abandoned mentally challenged children. They aim to provide a safe environment where these children have access to their basic rights of protection, education, healthcare and a happy childhood.These children are neglected and abandoned by their families.
Their physical, physiological condition at the time of admission is quite dismal.Food is an important part of their rehabilitation. The menu is planned based on the recommendations of the dietitians in the Institute of Child Health. The menu is kept tasty without affecting the nutritional value. When sufficient funds are received, the children also get a Ragi health drink. During meal time, the caregiver, special educator, and the physiotherapist work with the children to help them to independently eat their food.
A healthy meal is an important part of the children's rehabilitation. Donate to this program and support a mentally challenged child get access to food.
Sri Arunodayam
Program Updates
5 January, 2023
HELP A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD GET ACCESS TO NUTRITION
#5
Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months
Our homes’ nutrition program is carefully monitored by a Paediatric Nutritionist. After new entrants are screened, a special diet plan is drawn up and implemented for specific areas of dietary improvement. All children are provided milk twice a day (except for those who are lactose intolerant; these are given other nutritional drinks). The children are also given a lot of fluids in the form of fresh fruit juices and hot soups. The protein-carbohydrate-essential fats ratio is well balanced. Children need a lot of protein, especially in the early years of growth for good bone development. Bone problems are common for children with special needs and our diet is helping them overcome these issues while enhancing their mobility. 110 children are directly impacted by this program.
Challenges faced and next steps
The only challenge is the high prices of commodities and food products. Due to the Covid 19 situation, price fluctuations are a reality of life. That said, the efficacy of our nutrition program has not been impacted as we have a strict rule to never compromise on the quality of food. Children need good food for their overall health and well-being. Thus, fluctuating costs for this program are well-budgeted so that there is no adverse impact.
Stories from the ground
Little Johnsy Rani is walking and running, thanks to our nutrition and physiotherapy programs, and the tireless efforts of her physiotherapist and caregiver. Johnsy is 4 years old and struggled to walk when she came to our home this year, through the CWC, Chengalpattu. There are no clear details as to when and where she was abandoned, and she has traveled from home to home. Johnsy was sent to us as she was diagnosed with developmental delay and MR. With this prognosis, she could not be put up for adoption. Having been nutritionally deficient, Johnsy was only able to crawl and was quite weak when we took her in. Under our nutrition program, she gained overall strength and was able to endure the physiotherapy sessions designed to get her to walk. In just a couple of months, she is walking and running and is so excited about it. It appears that she’s destined to call Sri Arunodayam her home until a family comes along to accept her into their fold. And while we wait, we continue doing what we do best – giving her a chance to reach her full potential!
23 March, 2021
A healthy outside starts from the inside!
#4
Who abandons a child? Especially an intellectually disabled one who cannot fend for herself? Anu’s story is not uncommon in the India of today. Such heartless, immoral behaviour continues and is the reason why Sri Arunodayam continues to exist. Abandoned when she was a toddler, the concerned public found Anu and admitted her to the Children’s Hospital in Egmore. After being treated for around four days at the hospital, Anu was handed over to ChildLine and then to us through the Child Welfare Committee. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and profound intellectual disability, Anu was immediately started on a nutritious diet together with physiotherapy as she was unable to move on her own. From a bedridden state, we watched Anu make steady progress as the months and years rolled on. She is 12 years old now, and a nutritious diet and exercise has helped her become mobile. Responding to her therapists and the other children with a big smile, we see that she’s beginning to get along well and is enjoying herself. Anu has just started speaking a few words like “amma” and “appa”. It’s an honor that she thinks we are her parents. She loves toys and enjoys playing ball. A bag of colorful beads is all it takes to keep her happy! Anu can even manage a “high five”.
Investing in early childhood nutrition is a surefire strategy for good health. The returns are incredibly high, and this is our experience with Anu and with other children like her in our care.
5 August, 2020
To never give up hope
#3
To never give up hope
Children need a healthy, wholesome, high fibre diet that keeps their digestive systems functioning well. The healthy food that you help provide, helps them grow and keep good overall health. Good nutrition helps them develop in so many ways – physically, mentally, and even emotionally. With renewed strength they have the ability to keep trying to overcome their limitations. Sri Arunodayam’s meal menu is well balanced, planned with the help of nutritionists, paediatricians and physicians.
The Menu is planned based on recommendation of the Dietitian in the Nutrition Department, Institute of Child Health, Ignore Children Hospital, Chennai. For Breakfast and Dinner: Any kind of Tiffin like Idly, Dossa, Upma will be provided along with Sambar and Sweets to the children. For Lunch: Rice, Sambar, Porial, Rasam and Appalam will be provided for Lunch to the Children.
22 July, 2019
#2
Program Update
Our menu is well balanced, planned with the help of nutritionists, pediatricians and physicians.The Menu is planned based on recommendation of the Dietitian in the Nutrition Department, Institute of Child Health,Chennai. For Breakfast and Dinner:Any kind of Tiffin like Idly, Dosa, Chapathi, Pongal will be provided along with Sambar and Sweets to the children. For Lunch: Rice, Sambar, Porial, Rasam and Appalam will be provided to the Children.
Other Program updates are : On January 26th our children’s products through Prayatna were displayed at Kinder Nest, KK Nagar. The products were also on display at the Hindu Spiritual Fair, Guru Nanak College, Velachery from January 29th to February 4th. On January 30th, members from SPASTN came over to screen our children for signs of hearing and vision loss.We are happy that SPASTN will be conducting regular camps at our home.Around ten of our youngsters participated in the 18th International Childhood Cancer Day rally organized by Chennai Volunteers on March 17th at Besant Nagar Beach between 7.30 am and 9.30 am. We were joined by other NGO organizations in the awareness campaign.
Story from the field
We are happy to share the wonderful news that Mukesh, our visually challenged teenager, has aced the 10th Standard SSLC Public Exam with 401 marks out of 500. Although completely blind, Mukesh is not one to wallow in self-pity. What he lacks physically, he more than makes up for in intelligence.
Although starting an academic program much later than others his age, Mukesh showed tremendous progress in studies and we enrolled him in St. Louis School for the Blind, Adyar. Of keen wit and mind, Mukesh not only aced at studies but also at music that he learnt to play at this school, famous for its orchestra of blind students.
It is said that “many have sight but few have vision”. The complete opposite is true of Mukesh. Always an achiever – in fact stubbornly so, he never takes “no” for an answer and finds strength and means to accomplish goals he sets for himself. He wants to pursue higher education and we know that’s exactly what he’ll do! We are incredibly excited at his potential to lead a powerfully inspiring and purposeful life.
| What is the expected total number of beneficiaries in this program for FY18-19? | 55 |
| What is the number of beneficiaries/ benefits provided in this program, Year-To-Date | 55 |
| Village/City/State where project is located | CHENNAI |
| Total Budget for the project for FY18-19 | 1737737 |
| Total Expenses for the project YTD | 1737737 |
30 October, 2018
Sri Arunodayam's Update
#1
Program Update
Thank you dear donors for your generosity.
We, Sri Arunodayam, have put your contribution to good use in providing services to around 115 children in our care.
(1) Care & Support: care-giving (safe shelter, food, clothing), medicines/medical interventions;
(2) Special Education: education for children according to their abilities - Pre -Primary Level 1, Primary, Vocational, Early intervention and Custodial care;
(3) Therapy and rehabilitation: physiotherapy and the use of muscle stimulation equipment to help in blocking and managing pain while reducing swelling and inflammation;
(4) Occupational therapy: helping children achieve independence in all areas of life. Activities to improve cognitive, physical, and motor skills and enhance self-esteem;
(5) Vocational training: providing training for youngsters in skills to sustain a trade;
(6) Crisis intervention: assisting in rescues, helpline response, legal procedures, medical evaluation & follow-up, procedures with Child Welfare Committees (CWC), police, and other bodies, admissions and referrals.
Story from the field
Sai Lakshmi was abandoned at a temple in Villupuram and the District Collector ordered that she be sent to the Cradle Baby center. Later, the Child Welfare Committee (Vellore) passed her on to us as she is intellectually disabled.
Sai lives with Cerebral Palsy (CP) - a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain. CP affected Sai's muscle control, reflex, posture and balance. It had seriously impacted her fine and gross motor skills to the extent that she was confined to bed in the early stages of her development. To compound her situation, Sai has genu recurvatum (a deformity in the knee joint, so that the knee bends backwards), and she suffers bouts of fits.
Quite a dismal prognosis for any child but Sai is a winner! She is slowly and steadily transforming herself as she works with her teachers, caregivers and physiotherapist at becoming as normal as she can be. Sai has shown remarkable improvement in the past 6 months and has become quite the talker! She is able to eat on her own, dress up, sway to music, solve complex jigsaw puzzles for her age, and socialize so well that it's hard to recognize this child lives with CP. We believe she's well on her way to becoming independent.
| Expected total number of beneficiaries in this program for FY18-19 | 115 |
| Number of beneficiaries/ benefits provided in this program this year | 115 |
