RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Seema Mohan lives with two below the knee amputations and failing eyesight.
But this has not stopped her from believing that one day she will walk again.
Mohan, 47, of Dyer’s Village, Buen Intento Road, Williamsville, believes God is keeping her alive for a purpose.
Even though her vision may be dim, she sees now the mistakes she made in her lifestyle choices. She now hopes to motivate others into making healthier food choices.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Mohan recalled how she loved junk food and snacks.
“I loved sweets and fried foods. I was very careless with my health,” Mohan admitted.
And even when her weight began to climb after her marriage, she did not worry believing her youth guaranteed her good health.
“In 2011, when I got married I found out I had diabetes. I joined the clinic in Williamsville. I had done a hairdressing course back then and I wanted to open up my beauty parlour,” she said.
Despite being diabetic, Mohan continued with a bad diet and seven years later, tragedy struck.
One day while working in URP, something pierced her right foot. It got infected and in April, the doctors at the San Fernando General Hospital amputated three of her toes.
“My foot kept swelling up and going back down. Then the doctors told me they had to amputate my leg from below my knee. This was done on 25th May 2018,” she said.
A year later, tragedy struck a second time when her other foot got an infection. Once more three toe amputations were done. Her condition worsened and on August 23, 2019, the doctors removed her remaining leg.
Mohan said since then her life has been a challenge as she battled with depression. Her husband Ramesh Mohan had to leave work to care for her full time. At 44 years old, she did not qualify for geriatric care.
“I cannot cook, I need help to go to the bathroom. I cannot do anything,” she added with tears welling up in her eyes.
Mohan said she wanted to walk again.
Even though she feels depressed, Mohan said her husband and autistic 15-year-old son keep her happy.
“It is very hard to move about without legs but I try my best,” she said.
Using gloves and kneepads, Mohan crawled down a flight of stairs on her hands and knees.
While he was grateful for Mohan’s progress, Ramesh said he wanted to provide her with a comfortable living space. Their roof and ceiling have been falling apart and every time it rains, the entire house gets wet.
“I cannot leave her in here because she can’t do anything for herself. When it rains, we have to put buckets to catch the water. I had no choice but to leave working because I couldn’t pay anyone to see her. With COVID, things got really hard,” Ramesh said.
Showing a letter from a doctor, Ramesh said his wife qualified for prosthetic legs but they were too poor to pay for them.
“We went to the Orthopedic Centre in St Clair and they said they can do the legs for her. It costing $36,000. We paid down $2,000 but because I am not working, I cannot pay the rest. If we could get some help to help her to walk again, we will really be thankful. Then I can go back and look for work to fix the roof,” Ramesh added.
He also expressed pride in his wife’s diet change.
“Now she drinks a smoothie in the morning and she eats a lot of boiled foods.”
He wants Mohan to be an inspiration to others so that they will remember the repercussions of poor diet choices.
“It is not worth it. Get rid of the sugar. Stay away from processed foods and fried foods because if you don’t you will face a bleak future just like my wife,” Ramesh said.
Anyone wanting to assist Mohan can call 492-8374 or 738-1717. Contributions can be made to Republic Bank Account number 940- 031-995-131.