“Last month, everything came to a standstill when my father suffered an unexpected paralysis stroke. We admitted him to the Kala Hospital in Vishakhapatnam. He was under observation in the hospital for 10 days. We were in the middle of a countrywide lockdown with everything shut. I’m a cab driver, but those services were also put on hold. Having suffered all our lives to make ends meet, this news just made everything even worse. We were heartbroken with hardly any money to pay for the treatment. But I couldn’t see my father suffer. When I was a kid, my parents worked day and night farming to feed us with two meals a day. They made sure my siblings and I went to school, though they didn’t have much money to spend on other comforts for themselves. They were selfless and I felt like this was my time to save my father.
The treatment was estimated to be INR 1.3L. That was a lot of money for me to arrange. When people everywhere were complaining about losing jobs, the company I work for – Ola, funded my dad’s treatment. I received monetary aid of INR 65,000 from the Ola Foundation. I’ve been working with Ola for 2 years and I’m so grateful for what they’ve been doing not just for me but other employees as well. All we’ve got to do is reach out to the Foundation. I was asked to fill up the necessary forms and a representative called me within a few days to understand more about my father’s condition and the help that I needed. Within 3 days, I received the amount in my bank account. My father is doing much better now and has been prescribed proper medication. I’m so grateful to the Foundation – I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened if I didn’t receive their help.
This has been the biggest hurdle and life-changing moment in my life. When I found out that my father was unwell, my perspective changed. It made me realise that we end up taking so many things for granted and the situation has made me appreciate even the smallest of things that come my way. As soon as the lockdown ends, I will take my car out of the garage and resume work and try to bring back normalcy and routine in life for others as well. I am a firm believer of Karma and the fact that good things happen to people who are helpful towards others. I want to be able to give back to the world by helping whoever is in need.”
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