Vineet's 'Confirmation' on 19th January 2014

'Confirmation' is a Christian religious ritual in which a boy or girl renews his/her Christian faith in a more mature way. Which is why it is imparted to them when they are in their teens. Now this post may be a little bit emotional (as it was for me), but please bear with me... :)


So as the story goes, the children who were to receive Confirmation this year had to attend their Catechism classes since last year. Now Vineet was given the special option of staying at home and learning some notes. Which was fine, until in the last month, i.e. December, we got to know of a Test for it just before the week of the Confirmation. Vin studied for it and when he went for the test, he was told that it was difficult for him to receive Confirmation without having attended any classes. I was stupefied when I heard of this from my husband, having become extremely angry (and quite the Mother Bear as I become at times for Vinsy ) and was ready to fight on this. However, Vin's dad said that he would be attending Special classes for a week and then the Final decision would be taken. I gulped down my anger and frustration and offered everything to God - in full confidence that He had never let my Vinsy down till now ever....


After 3 or 4 days, Vin was called for the Ceremony's practice sessions to Church and it was then that we realized that he was in. I went with Vin the first day and saw his Catholic friends - some from school as well. They ALL are very fond of Vin, and that was the First time it struck me - Vin's friends were so tall, they looked so good, they were already looking like teenagers with facial hair, deep voice....and there was my Vin among them....still looking like a small kid in a wheelchair. My eyes welled up. Some of them even had girlfriends. Ah yes, there were girls in there too- all his age or maybe a year older and they looked big too. And I noticed...that none of the girls noticed Vin. And as I type this, I hope to God that maybe I am wrong....Maybe he was noticed, but in a different way...


And so finally on 19th January 2014, my Vinsy received his Fourth Holy Sacrament - The Confirmation. As luck would have it, we couldn't get a foto when he was being given it from the Holy Bishop. I am putting up a foto of the group that was clicked right at the end and am ending this post with a heavy heart and a prayer that whoever reads this may put up a silent prayer for Vin that God may always be by his side ever... Amen.

FINALLY ! The search is over - New wheelchair for Vineet

KARMA- AURORA 3 +

WHEELCHAIR NUMBER 7

So we had long decided that when we would be visiting Kolkata for my Godson's First Holy Communion on the 17th of November , we would allot one day to search for Vin's new wheelchair. So on the morning of 16th, we left for the place in Kolkata renowned for All types of  Mobility stuff- Chittaranjan Avenue. I was looking out for Model 938 by Vissco as Vin had tried it out in a hospital and suited him and us well. Then a store showed us this- Karma(number one brand in India as of now). It had swing-away handrests, removable leg rests, removable big wheels, foldable, etc. But the Best Part was - Vin's legs fitted on to the rests PERFECTLY.

 His papa was happy it could be made so small as to fit inside the car's boot comfortably. But in the first store, the left leg rest was not swinging back into position with a click as the right one. So they made us wait for over an hour saying they would get another piece for us. Only there was no other piece with them. So Vin's dad walked down the lane and found the same model in another shop and a few hundred cheaper. It took us 5 minutes to check that one out and load it into our car :). Vin looks very comfy in it, and I am happy for the legs :)

VINEET THE ROCKSTAR!!!! [SPECTRUM 2013]

28th September 2013. Saturday. 12 noon approx.
Vineet performed on his Octapad for the first time in front of approximately 200 or more people (mostly participants, teachers , parents, guests from the 5 Topmost schools of Asansol). The venue was his own school - St. Patrick's Higher Secondary School's Auditorium.

So as the story goes, Vin was supposed to take part in his Annual Talent show in school in August. I had in mind Justin Beiber's 'Baby' song for it and by pure chance, even got a video song of it where Justin sang the song only with a guitarist. It was the Best option and Vin started practising for it with the help of his Octapad Teacher (who's very kind enough to give him his classes at home once every week). At first Vin was a bit reluctant- he said there was not much time. Then we got news that the Talent show was only for kids upto Class 7. Then came the Half-yearly exams and we forgot all about it. Then after exams we came to know that the Annual Inter-school Fest of St. Patrick's School - ''SPECTRUM 2013'' was going to be held and Vin would perform the very same song. Vin was a bit nervous again, but his Sir gave him confidence that he would practice with him and it would be just fine. So they practised some more for 2-3 days and then his Sir had to leave for somewhere Outstation for an emergency, then our player (was supposed to be) conked out, and I was all worked up.I made Vin practise the last part with a 'roll-over' with the computer's help, but Vin would get worked up. I thought he wouldn't be able to perform. Then , as I believe , 'God Helps those who help themselves', things started falling in place. The night before the Programme it suddenly struck me that I had 'cut' the video from the point where Justin is playing the fool and laughing with his guitarist , at Vin's behest and had saved it in a format which my player was unable to read. And at 11.30 p.m. I tried out the original piece without cuts and it played perfectly well. So my player was perfectly alright. I beamed 'coz Vin's Sir would be coming early morning to help him practise last minute before he went on stage. By now Vin was already playing like a pro and I left for my work with a lighter heart :)

When Vin's part came, I gave the 'cut' CD to the person in charge of the music and during our short conversation , I think I confused the poor fellow. He stopped the CD seconds before it ended. So Vin could not do the roll-over. But inspite of it, the performance was great and everyone cheered for him. He even got a 'Participant' token! :)

He was Vineet, the Rockstar that day!!!

Click here to see the video of Vin's performance

Urinary Tract Infection after 6 years....

The last time Vin had a Urinary Tract Infection was way back in 2007, when his ureters had developed a false passage and CIC was becoming increasingly difficult. And then one night I punctured something and blood started coming out in the urine to my Horror!! We then rushed first to Kolkata for the tests and then to 'Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore'. It was there that we were introduced to overnight draining, etc.
          I don't know whether this infection was related to the seasonal flu that Vineet had just had the week before. He was on antibiotics for it and hence loose motion due to them. And then the fever came back. It couldn't be anything else, so we did the Urine culture and there it was.... a UTI. Well, he got antibiotics again, they are over now, and his fever is gone too (Praise God), but UTIs do something worse- weaken him. He's still recovering though he looks better. So our strategy of thinking that 'we need not do a CIC during the day because he has overnight draining' is not going to work perhaps. And of course there is always a Bigger problem - Vineet does not drink adequate water. Especially in school. It leads to his urine being stagnant for longer periods in his urinary bladder and hence the more chances of infection. I'm supposed to give him Cranberry juice which works well for bladder - flushing, but its not regular in supply here in India. I might have to try the online shops now. So thats all for now folks...thought I'd pass on the details...
                       The latest is, Vineet is preparing for his Talent show this year to be held soon and this time he plans to play the Octapad for Justin Beiber's 'Baby' vocals :) Will let you know how it was....till then..

 

The Cure - Episode 5 : Wearable Robot (courtesy- AlJazeeraEnglish)

I am goin to have a sleepless night because of this video I saw today!!!!!!!! I'm just SO SPEECHLESS!!

VIN GOES TO SEE THE TAJ MAHAL !! (DAY 4)

We returned very late in the night from Fatehpur-Sikri to Delhi. Next morning we rested and left for Raj Ghat (the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi laid to rest here) and then to Red Fort. Raj Ghat was a Beautiful place and if time was not a constraint, we would have liked to sit there a while in the cool breeze and listen to the famous song-' Vaishnav jan toh...' being played all the while..



RAMP AT THE ENTRANCE TO RAJ GHAT



VIN, HIS GRANDMOTHER AND SISTER AT RAJ GHAT

Thereafter we went to the 'Red Fort' which was nearby and our van was let in right upto the Ticket counter because of Vin! :) There was a good amount of Security there and when we went in, there was a flea market there! As we went in further, we visited a 'Pre-independance' Museum as well as a museum with stuff from the Mughal Ages. It was quite an eye-opener for Vin and his sis. The grounds were very extended and by the time we covered most of it, our legs ached from all the walking. Ramps were built everywhere and needless to say, I was very pleased with Delhi after all this.

So that was the last day of our visits to historical places in and around Delhi. Even though I have not put up pics here, but I must mention that in Delhi there were ramps all around even in public places, all the bus-stands, and I even saw a wheelchair-lift for taking them down to the Metro-station. So I shall conclude here by voting for Delhi as the 'Most Accessible' city in India. And a Very Special Vote of Thanks to the 'Archaeological survey of India' for making Vin and so 'our' trip a very 'accessible' one!

Oh wait! I had said in the 1st part of this Trip series that I would mention about the New Delhi railway Station again. So while we were boarding our return train, we booked two coolies again and as we were alighting from the stairs on to our platform, what do I see? A mini golf-cart on the station with 2-3 aged people on it. I stopped, asked the driver how he came onto the platform and he answered - there are two ways ma'm. but why? ' And I showed him Vin coming down the stairs in his very tired dad's arms and said- these coolies made fools out of us. He said -Please take my number and if you ever come down again, please call me and please know that we are always at your service.' I smiled. So New Delhi lived up to my expectations- Most wheelchair-accessible City :)

VIN GOES TO SEE THE 'TAJ MAHAL' !! (Day 3)

And so finally on Day 3, we were all set to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. Agra is a city located some 200 kilometres from New Delhi and we can go there by train or bus or even hire a taxi. We opted for a Taxi because it would free us from the 'time-fixes' in all other modes of transport. We opted for the new 'National Highway' from Delhi to Agra. Its called the 'Yamuna-ExpressWay". Yamuna is the name of the river beside which the Taj has been built. It was the neatest and best Expressway I have ever experienced until now :)


THE 'YAMUNA EXPRESSWAY'


So we reached Agra after 4 hours, but it could have been earlier- our Taxi had a tyre puncture! We reached at around 12 noon. New rules!- we had to leave our Taxi at the stand and hire a'Battery-operated' rickshaw. This so, because the Taj was getting corroded due to fuel emmissions. Good thing. The bad thing was , that the fellow who's taxi we hired charged us a whooping hundred bucks for a ride of 3 minutes, when it should have been only Rupees 5 per head!(as we realised on our way back from the Taj). There were also available horse-tongas and camel-tongas, and although Vinisha saw them for the first time, she kept snorting her nose at the smell of animal-crap all around. You couldn't see them(the place was neatly maintained), but you got the stink :/

Then we bought tickets for the Entrance and we had to go in queue while Vineet the Great had Direct Access through the Main Gate with his dad as escort!! He really is a 'Maharajah'!! :D

Entrance to the Taj Mahal

A little tragedy happened here and it had to do with Vinisha's favourite 'Snow-white' Princess doll that she carried along till here in her bag- the security people naturally confiscated it- A doll was good enough to put bombs in it. Never mind it it was 'Snow-white' or a Princess doll, or Vinisha Victor's favourite doll- the lady-constable almost laughed at Vinisha!So I had to go all the way down the road to a 'Locker room' and deposit her doll for a small fee. When I returned, Vinisha was almost in tears and only when I consoled her that 'snow-white' was resting safely in a room, that she felt okay! :D Girls!
So we walked in, and my smile came back- there were ramps all around!!

 

FINALLY!! THE TAJ MAHAL!!!

 

AND THEN CAME THE BLOOPER OF THE ENTIRE TRIP- THERE WAS NO RAMP TO GO UP TO THE MAIN MAUSOLEUM OF THE TAJ

WE WATCHED  HELPLESSLY AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO DO EXCEPT CARRY VIN UP THE STAIRS.

THE GUARD WAS SO 'UN-HELPFUL', HE EVEN REFUSED TO LOOK AFTER VIN'S WHEELCHAIR HERE, SO VIN'S GRANDMA VOLUNTEERED TO STAY BACK DOWN ('COZ SHE HAD BEEN HERE EARLIER TOO)

 

 

NEEDLESS TO SAY - WE WERE TIRED AND DISAPPOINTED.................

So Vin's dad carried him up the stairs and with much difficulty reached the parapet where people could sit down. After taking a small rest , Vin, his dad and Vinisha went in and walked across through the mausoleum and then we took some pictures. Then we decided to go back down. Uh-Oh! More trouble. The wheelchair was at the Entrance side and the 'Exit' side did not have a Ramp!! Poor dad had to carry Vin some more after climbing down the stairs. He was totally exhausted! Someone Please TAKE NOTE!! Its not as easy as you would like to believe!!

 

 

We left tired and a little disappointed, but took care not to let Vin feel 'our' disappointment..

 

Next me and Vinisha walked to the Locker room again to collect her 'Snow-white' and the man at the counter didn't even check our token! One look at Vinisha and he knew the doll was hers!!LOL!!

:)

NEXT WE WENT TO SEE THE 'AGRA FORT' SITUTATED NEARBY

Here we got ourselves a 'Helper' to wheel Vin around and this was an intelligent thing to do we realised as we went up the slope towards the castle. Here too, we found wheelchair ramps all over the place and my smile came back :))

 

We made a quick survey, watched the Taj again through the castle windows and hurried towards 'Fatehpur-Sikri', a place well-known for being made by Akbar the Great Emperor and the 175 feet tall door called' Buland Darwaza'. It was supposed to be an hour or so ride from Agra and since it was already afternoon, we rushed. We reached just in time for the last bus up the hill to the castle, and Surprise of all surprises- There was a ramp leading up the adjacent door. So we had Vin being able to go up to see a 175 feet tall door called 'Buland Darwaza' made by Akbar the Great!

 

 

THANKYOU INDIA TOURISM DEPARTMENT AND ARCHAELOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA! THANKYOU SO SO MUCH! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR A SMALL BOY ON A WHEELCHAIR!!

 

 YES, THAT WAS AS HIGH AS VIN WAS ABLE TO GO! THANKS TO SOME WOODEN PLANKS AND SOME HUMANE PEOPLE! :)