Seven months ago Sushma was a typical stereotyped housewife, always behind her husband, and concentrating only on being a good wife, and daughter-in-law. She must have obviously planned to become a good mother because it was seven months ago she became mother of Mansi.

But Mansi had ventricle septal defect, a heart disease where the circulation of blood is not regular and can be fatal. Firstly Mansi was a girl born in a family where sons are always given preference, secondly having this life threatening illness. The loving father and doting grandparents were missing in this scenario. They had become the prosecutors. They simply ordered Sushma to leave the infant without any treatment as they were unwilling to spend any money on her treatment.

Suddenly everything changed, from a pliant and docile wife she became a strong mother, a tigress who was ready to go to any lengths to save her only child. She left her husband’s house and came to PGI Chandigarh a place far off from Jammu for treatment of her daughter.

A really very big step for a housewife who is totally dependent on her husband to take. She has her 80 year old father with her. But belonging to a poor family she does not have any source of income and requires financial help for the expensive operation.

The Doctors at PGI are helping her as best as they can because even they are impressed by her courage. They can recall many cases where girls were left to die without treatment because the family was not prepared to spend money while boys were treated even if they had to take a loan.

One can admire Sushma’s guts and pray for speedy recovery of her daughter.I am sure with such strong mother even Mansi will be able to fight off her illness.