Depression is the most unpleasant thing one may ever experience.
It is that absence of being able to believe that you will ever be cheerful again. The absence of hope and the feeling of a dead-end is way different from feeling sad. Sadness definitely hurts but sadness is still a healthy feeling. Depression is much much worse.
While it is found in 1 in 10 people, it is more common in women than men.
Even though a woman has a 50% more chance of being depressed than a man, many women choose to battle with the demons of depression in silence. Why? Because of social stigma or log kya kahengey?
But, Rachna Malik, a 50-year-old housewife, came forward to share her inspiring story to not only help other women but also many terminally ill kids.
While recalling her story of how she fought her depression with kindness, she shared with TBI,
“It was my daughter who pushed me to get out of the house and do something. I had been cooped up inside for almost six months since I just didn’t want to meet anyone. I started working with an NGO for the blind and I saw that as a turning point in my life. I worked there as a volunteer for four years,”
And, then she shared the most magical thing about the whole volunteering assignment.
Within six months of volunteering, Rachna not only stopped taking her depression pills but also felt healthy both physically and emotionally.
Sharing how her journey of kindness started with terminally ill kids, she shared,
“I was part of a Gurudwara from where volunteers would go to AIIMS once a week to distribute food (langar), I started going along with them. I remember seeing the plight in which these families lived, and also remember seeing a girl die on the footpath. That changed me.”
She further added,
“AIIMS provides free treatment for those who are Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders. However, in working with the children I realised that the parents who brought their children here had absolutely nothing with them. And living and surviving in Delhi is not an easy task.”
Rachna and her group, Givers for a Cause provides financial, emotional, and material help to the families of these children.
“Given how much these children are suffering and going through, my only aim is to keep them happy and do everything towards that cause. Since I cannot do that 24/7, I ensure that whenever I am with them, they are happy and spend their time laughing,”
While in pain, these little kids find a reason to smile when Rachna and her team spend time with them. But it is not that easy as it seems.
Rachna and her team do witness deaths of some these young kids, which is definitely not easy.
“It is not easy what we do – there are days when I wait for my husband to leave the house in the morning only so that I can sit and cry.”
While recalling her experience, she shared:
“For many of the parents, their life revolves around their unwell child and getting them treated. When the treatment fails to make a difference and there is a death, it is almost as though the parents also die. I make it a point to spend my Monday’s calling each of these parents up and just checking on how they are dealing with the loss.”
In the midst of this heartbreaking pain, Rachna shares how she finds her own strength and determination:
“The families of the children go back to their homes, they have their own life there – I am the one who is left alone. There are kids who I have seen and nurtured for so long and dealing with their loss is heart-breaking. I mourn every death and promise myself to help more and more kids.”
After hearing Rachna’s story, it definitely feels that kindness and keeping someone above one own self, is one of the best gifts that you can give to your soul.
If you wish to contact Rachna to help or volunteer please call her at +91-98118 53489.
One can definitely feel inspired to be a better human to feel happy and fulfilled. But, in case you feel you are suffering from depression, we would suggest that you see an expert as soon as possible.
