For the past 59 years, Shyamraj has lived in Amar Park slum in Zakhira—a place he once came to with hope in his heart, leaving behind the dusty lanes of his village in Uttar Pradesh. Now 78 years old, his weathered face tells the story of a lifetime of struggles and silent endurance.
About a decade ago, his world changed forever. Without warning, a paralytic attack left one side of his body weakened, his independence stolen in an instant. Later, he found out that the cause was unchecked high blood pressure. Alone and confused, he began self-medicating with BP medicines from a local chemist. But without proper guidance and no one to ensure he took them regularly, his health continued to decline.
As his body grew weaker, so did his spirit. The crumbling walls of his house seemed to reflect the broken pieces of his life—damp, dark, and suffocating. The loneliness and helplessness began to gnaw at his mind. The fear of being forgotten, of dying without dignity, haunted him every day.
Then one day, something shifted. Members of the Asha team visited his home. They spoke to him not just with knowledge, but with warmth—with care. They didn’t see just an old man in a worn-out home; they saw a life still worth fighting for.
They brought him to the Asha dispensary, where his blood pressure was found to be dangerously high. The Asha team immediately gave him the right medications, carefully monitored his condition, and provided him with strength-building supplements. For the first time in years, someone was walking beside him in his health journey.
But his suffering didn’t end there. Shyamraj had been living with unbearable tooth pain. Only three teeth remained, making every meal a struggle. He had resigned himself to a life of soft foods and constant discomfort. Once again, the Asha team stepped in. They arranged for his remaining teeth to be removed and gave him a full set of dentures. The first time he smiled with them, it wasn’t just his teeth that were restored—it was his sense of dignity.
Today, Shyamraj smiles with pride. He can eat comfortably, he feels stronger, and perhaps most importantly, he feels seen and cared for. The sadness in his eyes has been replaced by a calm gratitude. His heart is full of thanks—for the Asha family, for their kindness, and for Dr. Kiran , whose vision continues to transform lives like his.
“Asha didn’t just heal my body,” he says with emotion. “They brought light back into a life that had gone dark.”
