Kindness during Corona Times

I have been a member of an organization called ‘AWWA’ (Army Wives Welfare Association), for the last 25 years. All this by virtue of being married to an army officer. All those years I have been participating in the welfare activities on various fronts. Never before did I realize the significance till Covid-19 times. Of course, awareness and cooperation was always present in normal times too. However, the selfless love and devotion of a young girl I witnessed during such difficult times is incomparable. She did it all just out of her strong sense of duty. That young, simple girl from a small town set an example for all.

Here is the story without too much ado’s. A couple were expecting their first baby after 3 long years and after several treatments. The would-be mom was a young girl of 24, and father all of 27. She went into labor, and after a C-section, delivered a healthy baby boy, 3.4 kgs. But before she could hold the baby in her arms, she suffered a heart attack, a case of embolism: blood clot in the lungs. She did not survive the attack and died within an hour of delivering the baby. This tragedy took place on the 3^rd of April, 2020, amidst the lockdown due to Corona. The husband, a Sepoy in the Indian Army was waiting eagerly to greet his wife and the baby. He was accompanied by his mom in law, the new grandmother, who had come from her hometown, Haryana. She had felt duty bound to look after her daughter and the grandchild and in spite of lockdown had travelled all the way to be with them. The tragedy shook us all and left the family shattered.

The Sepoy and his mom-in-law decided to take the deceased to their hometown for the final rites despite everyone trying to persuade them to stay back for the new-born. But then, such tragedies leave all of us numb, defying all logical thinking. The baby, being a few hours old, was not allowed to travel and had to stay back. We all were at our wits end as to how to take care of the new-born; for, he could not be kept at the hospital for too long amidst the rising pandemic. News spread and the word was out that we wanted help to solve this situation.

As luck might have it, another Sepoy and his wife came to rescue. They themselves were undergoing a fertility treatment for the past three years. Still the young couple volunteered to look after the baby till the father returned. Now that speaks of the camaraderie of the highest level. With utmost affection and care, the couple looked after the baby, with the help of an experienced, mature lady, the Subedar Major’s wife. Of course, there were a few neighbors to help; for we all know how taxing and unnerving the initial few days are for any neonatal.

Through all the process, if anything was difficult then it was avoiding an emotional attachment with the infant. Especially after having looked after the little bundle of energy as one’s own for about 20 days, 24*7! We all grew fond of the baby as days passed by. The couple inevitably became foster parents and were very happy to be blessed with an opportunity. Yes, 20 days is a long time indeed for such vigilant care. But then, the dreaded moment arrived- father of the baby returned, to take charge of his only ray of hope, the only living memory of his wife, his own little self.

Yes, everyone was relieved! Finally, the little one would go back rightfully to his own people. But, what about the young foster parents? It was definitely heart-breaking to part with this little infant, who had become an inseparable part of their lives for twenty long days. But then, one has to do what one has to and move on regardless. Thanks to all the love and care showered upon the baby by his foster parents, he survived the initial days. That was the moment that I realized the value of the bond that we all shared through the AWWA.

Such amazing and exemplary acts of courage and kindness. It is this humanitarian approach that makes me proud of being associated with women like these through this Organization -AWWA.