Thanks so much to Rich Skolburg, our volunteer photographer, for
sending back this uplifting story from his travels in India!
Diabetes would claim his foot but not his will. A professional
painter, Pithambaran is also a master craftsman. Five years ago, one of his last jobs involved painting the
hospital in which he is now a patient. It was one of the last projects he would
complete before his health condition prevented him from working. The road back to independence would be
a long and difficult one.
When we asked Pithambaran what a new wheelchair would
mean to him, he told us something surprising. One thing he liked about spending
so much time in the hospital was the fact he had access to a wheelchair, a
mobility and freedom he did not have at his own home. A new wheelchair could
give him that luxury once again, wherever he might be.
Could he paint with a wheelchair? Yes, he believed he could,
and within hours of receiving his gift he was at work on a piece of furniture
there in the hospital, happy to share with us his enthusiasm. His passion for
the craft had never faded and on this day like so many others, he wore the shirt
with his company’s name. He wore
it proudly and insisted we get a shot of it. His joy was clear to see, as
his family and friends watched. On this day, there was something different about
Pithambrum’s smile. Yes, he was smiling with happiness, but with a paint brush
in hand and employment within reach, he was also smiling with pride.
No comments:
Post a Comment