good, I respect him for what he did. On 10/1/14, Lissy Verghese <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you for sharing! > Lissy Verghese > > On 10/1/14, Dr.B.S.M.Kumar <[email protected]> wrote: >> Malvika Iyer's amazing story of grit! >> >> Malvika Iyer is the essence of courage and optimism. >> At 13, a freak accident caused her to lose both her hands and severely >> damaged her legs, raising serious doubts about whether she would ever >> walk again. >> But young Malvika braved the odds and emerged victorious. Today she is >> a dedicated social worker, a motivational speaker and model for >> accessible clothing in India. >> Malvika is also a Global Shaper from the Chennai Hub, which is a part >> of the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic >> Forum. >> She gives a first person account of her ordeal and how she overcame it >> to S Saraswathi. >> Malvika Iyer >> I was born in Kumbakonam. My father was transferred to Rajasthan when >> I was still very young. I spent nearly 13 years of my early life in >> Bikaner, Rajasthan. >> I had a very healthy and a happy childhood. I was a tomboy; I enjoyed >> outdoor sports and learnt swimming and skating. I also learnt Kathak >> for about seven years. >> It was a fun-filled life till the day I met with the accident: May 26, >> 2002. I was 13 years old. >> The accident >> Some months before the accident, an ammunition depot had caught fire >> in the city and hand shells, grenades and other bits and pieces were >> scattered all over the city. One such piece landed in our >> neighbourhood. >> We were told that it was a diffused shell. I was trying to stick >> something on my jeans pocket, and I wanted something heavy to hammer >> it with. I just took this shell and hit it. >> With the first hit, the shell exploded in my hand. >> There was almost nothing left of my hands. Both my legs had severe >> injuries, nerve damage and multiple fractures. >> It took nearly two years and several surgeries for me to walk again. >> Bedridden for two years >> For the first three days after the explosion, I was totally conscious, >> aware of each and every thing happening around me, but my body was >> numb. >> Within moments of the explosion I heard my mom screaming, "Meri bachhi >> ke haath chale gaye!" >> I was taken to the hospital immediately. There was so much damage to >> my limbs that my body went into a state of shock. I could not feel >> anything as the four main nerves were instantly cut. There was 80 per >> cent blood loss. >> When I reached the hospital there was zero BP, the doctors were not >> sure if I would survive. >> Even in that state I remember apologising to my mom, telling her that >> I am sorry I put her through this. Then I said I wanted to meet this >> friend of mine. It was so strange. I gave the contact number of my >> friend and told my parents to call her. I was terrified; would this >> really be the last time I was going to see these people? >> The doctors were not sure that they would be able to save my leg, >> especially the left one. It was dangling, just hanging from a small >> bit of skin. They wanted to amputate it, but my parents did not want >> to risk any more damage. They took me in an ambulance to Jaipur. >> The splinters were stuck all over my legs and had penetrated deep >> within. The pain began to sink in and it was terrible. I can remember >> those days and nights filled with pain. >> But the doctors were good and managed to save my leg. Though >> completely disfigured, with no sensation in my left leg and a foot >> drop (difficulty in lifting the front part of the foot) in the right, >> I am lucky I still have them. >> My hands, though, were completely cut off. There was no need to >> amputate them because they had been blown off; they couldn't even find >> any trace of them at the accident site. >> Later a skin grafting operation was done and with that I am left with >> just two stumps. Fortunately, the stumps, especially the right one, >> were quite long, so I was able to lift them like how a squirrel does. >> I was treated at a Bone and Joint clinic in Anna Nagar in Chennai. >> After months of intense therapy, I was finally able to walk. >> My accident happened in May 2002. I took my first few painful steps in >> November 2003. >> I still had a long way to go. >> Getting on with life >> We started enquiring about artificial hands. There was not much >> awareness about this, so my mom and I used to Google. We found a >> German prosthetics company called Ottobock that had a branch in >> Chennai. >> That is how I got a pair of bio-electric hands. >> I started practising to write; initially my handwriting was very big, >> and then slowly, with practise, I improved. >> This was in December 2003. In four months my friends would be >> appearing for their 10th board exams. I felt totally left out. >> I was in touch with a very close friend in Bikaner. She used to tell >> me how they were preparing. I decided that I would give it a shot. My >> mom found this coaching centre right behind our street. >> I had just three months to prepare. All my childhood, I have been into >> sports and dancing and skating, and now I could do nothing but sit and >> walk a bit. As I had no other choice, I think all my concentration >> went into academics. >> I prepared and prepared and when the results came, my life was >> completely changed. >> I got a State rank among the private candidates, and I was one among >> the State toppers, as well. I scored centum in both Math and Science >> and 97 in Hindi, also a State first. >> I felt like a celebrity. The next day, all the leading newspapers >> covered me. They wrote about how I overcame my disability to achieve >> this distinction. It was all very encouraging. >> I was invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (then >> President of India). >> Malvika Iyer with former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam >> I got to meet a lot of other celebrities. I was given an award for >> outstanding model student by Wisdom magazine. >> After 12th, I joined St Stephen's College, Delhi, where I graduated in >> Economics (Honours). >> I then did my Master's in Social Work from the Delhi School of Social >> Work. >> During my field training, I had the opportunity to work with >> differently-abled children. I realised that this is something I have >> to be a part of. I could empathise with them and understand them >> better. Since I was always given a lot of encouragement, I wanted to >> give something back. >> A new beginning >> Last year, I was invited for a TEDx Talk and that talk completely >> changed the course of my life. >> Until then I was just doing my work and trying to be a part of >> society. But that wasn't helping me much and I would still feel bad >> that everybody else is normal and I am not. >> But when I started talking about myself, I realised that I was >> actually much better off than a lot of people, who would complain even >> without any problem in their life. >> I was seen as a motivational speaker. Now I get invited to talk at >> colleges and schools or to corporates in Chennai and other cities. >> Last year, I was invited to host the India Inclusion Summit in >> Bangalore. I was the emcee and had the opportunity to meet a lot of >> differently-abled people. There were people who had actually achieved >> something or who were in the process of recovering and coming out of >> it. It was a great honour to be able to host such a programme. >> This helped me realise that I have to accept my disability. It is not >> like I am ever going to get my hands back. >> The people around me made this possible -- my friends, my family, and >> my mom especially. She was my support throughout. She was like my >> shadow. She made sure that nobody hurt me in any way. It is her >> positive spirit that has made me who I am today. >> She has given me a lot of freedom; she never treated me differently at >> all. There was never any show of pity. >> Presently, I am Junior Research Fellow doing my PhD in Social Work at >> the Madras School of Social Work. I am studying the experience of >> inclusion; how differently-abled people feel in society and what is >> society's attitude towards them. >> Initially, I used to feel bad when people stared at me. It made me >> very uncomfortable, but now it does not matter. I know who I am. I >> have become more strong-hearted, what they feel or how they see me >> does not affect me any more. >> Apart from this, I have been passionately working on everything >> outside. Recently I did a ramp walk at NIFT (National Institute of >> Fashion Technology), Chennai. >> I am a model for accessible clothing; it is an initiative of Ability >> Foundation and NIFT. >> Malvika Iyer on the ramp at NIFT >> The students designed two gowns for me, taking into considering my >> prosthetic hand. I was the showstopper for that evening and it was an >> amazing experience. Ever since then I have been writing about >> accessible clothing. >> When I was in the hospital bed 12 years ago, I thought that I could >> never come out of this. Now I can see that there is so much more to >> do. I think life is really, really good. >> I was invited to host a Run in Bangalore recently. >> I went all by myself. I handled everything, from the airport, all the >> travelling, the stay in the hotel, etc. Today I can do 90 per cent of >> my work on my own, without any assistance. >> When I think about how my life has turned out to be, I think it is >> fine, whatever happened. >> I would not have wanted to live a mediocre life. I have always been >> scared of mediocrity and I am not sure how my life would have turned >> out if it were not for this accident. >> I feel I am blessed because I know that something very horrible >> happened and even now it is not like I am 100 per cent all right. I >> can't just run around and do everything on my own. My legs still hurt >> when I walk. >> But a lot of good has come my way. >> I am confident I can do something meaningful with this life. I don't >> have any regrets. >> Dancing was my first love. I used to be sad that I could not dance >> like before. But now I have started dancing again. I cannot dance as >> gracefully as before, but I still dance. >> At the Bangalore Run, I danced on the stage. I think life is all about >> making the best with what you have. >> I got engaged in February this year to a wonderful man, a design >> engineer, and there is a lot to look forward to in life rather than >> just sitting around thinking of what could have been. >> >> Regards, >> >> -- >> *Dr.B.S.M.Kumar* >> *Prof.[Former] Dept of Chemical Engineering* >> *SRM UNIV * >> *Hand set +91 9840139849* >> ** >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >> of >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> [email protected] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please >> visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the >> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. >
Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
