Charity Work supporting St Luke's

At St Luke's, Peikulam, in the Tirunelveli Diocese, up to three hundred men, women and children live and work, both lepers and the children of lepers. We have raised funds for 6 feed-days this year and are now sponsoring four children through their education, and sponsoring one adult (pictured). Connected with this is our involvement with a Handicapped Boys’ Home, in the same district, and we have similarly sent funds to help with their work.

You may visit the trust set up to support these institutions: www.neemtreetrust.org.uk

Pictured here is Nambi, who Merchiston is currently sponsoring. His story is published below:

Many years ago, Nambi felt numbness with a peculiar sensation in both the legs. He did not know that this is a symptom of leprosy. After a few years some insensitive patches appeared on his chest. Nambi went to Dhonavoor Christian Fellowship Hospital. There the Doctor examined and diagnosed Nambi to be suffering from leprosy and gave treatment. Nambi feared that if the fellow villagers came to know that he is a “leper”, they would ostracize his family and that his only son’s marriage-prospects will be affected. Due to this fear of social stigma Nambi stopped taking treatment after a few months.

In a few years, the leprosy-bacilli destroyed the sensory nerves which transmit the sensory feelings such as touch, pain, heat and cold to the brain. So both the legs lost sensation.

To protect his insensitive feet from accidental injuries, Nambi ought to have worn soft protective foot wear. But he did not do so. He walked bare-footed. So the left foot got injured by thorn pricks. Since there was no sensation he did not feel the pain of the thorn-prick and continued to walk with the injuried foot. After a few days the injuries got infected. Since there was no pain he did not bother to take treatment. Due to the failure to take prompt treatment the injuries got infected. The infection went deep to the underlying tissues and bones.

Nambi went to a nearby hospital. They removed the gangrenous tissues and dead bones surgically. The ulcer healed. He was discharged from the hospital. Again he walked bare-footed and carelessly. The foot got infected by thorn / broken glass pieces. The wound got infected, turned gangrenous. The dead tissue were removed surgically. Thus went on the cycle of accidental injury–infection, tissue destruction and removal of tissues and dead bones for a long time. The foot got deformed, badly reduced in size and became unfit for weight-bearing. By continuing to walk on the badly deformed foot-Nambi ended up with permanent plantar ulcer.