Pray for Ruby

Ruby is finally set to undergo surgery for a blocked and ulcerated food-pipe that has plagued her for 12 long years. Inshallah, if all goes well, this 30 year old frail 40 kg girl might get another chance to live life with grace and vigour, when a loop of intestine replaces her gullet and allows her to eat normal food.

Her problems had begun suddenly twelve years ago when she had accidentally swallowed sulphuric acid, used to clean floors and commodes that her father had kept in a clear water bottle. She still shudders to think of the intense burning, choking and pain, the swelling around her mouth and the agony of drips in hospital. A week later she had noticed difficulty in swallowing food that had progressed to obstructing even the passage of her saliva. She had withered rapidly from a 55 kg energetic girl to a skin-and-bony 20 kg in three months and had become so weak that she needed hospitalization and drips again and again.

It was around then that her association with us started when she had come with a badly damaged food-pipe through which even water would not trickle down. We had managed to pass down a thin wire and dilate the stricture with bougies and balloons to initially allow liquids, and then a bit further to let semi-solids such as sooji, khichri and custards into her stomach. She soon picked up a few kilos and got back on to her feet.

Then the socio-economic factors came into play. Her parents found her protracted illness too expensive, and decided to concentrate on their two other children, leaving Ruby to her fate. Her marriage of a few months broke up. She soon found herself struggling to stay alive, earning Rs 3000/- per month from a lodge as a part-time caretaker, and spending most of it on her 2 weekly dilatation sessions and her special liquid feeds.

She was advised surgery several times over this period, but had declined. Firstly, there was the issue of expense. Second, no family support. And third, she was mortally scared of losing her voice as she had met someone who indeed had after this kind of surgery.

What then triggered this change of mind now? With her indomitable spirit, she has enrolled for a graduation course that she is pursuing after the day’s work. Further, a benevolent soul, touched by her story, has offered to sponsor her surgery. She, on her part, has finally decided to take the risk and turn the corner. Her ambition now is to leave the unpleasant past behind and create her own future and become independent.

Corrosive injury to the food-pipe is still a common problem in India. While some are due to accidents, many occur from suicidal intent in a fit of desperation. Most victims are able to live normal lives with few sessions of endoscopic dilatation, but some like Ruby need more help. 

As published in HT City (Hindustan Times) dated 15 April, 2012.