Profile of Ms. Shanjida and Usha

Ms. Shanjida (age 35), had a happy family life with her husband and two children before she fell from a flat roof with no railing, after she had gone to the roof to collect drying clothes from the far corner. When she regained her consciousness she found herself in the bed of a local hospital, unable to pull herself up. Three days after the fall Ms. Shanjida was admitted to CRP as a traumatic tetraplegic patient, paralysed in all four limbs. It was a terrible blow for her entire family and relatives could find no words to console Shanjida’s family.  They did not foresee a further twist of fate. Ms. Shanjida was looked after by her younger sister Ms. Usha who is 18 years of age, the youngest child of her parents and a first-year student attending Eden Girls’ College in Dhaka. She was supporting her elder sister here at CRP through her trauma, and after being with her for a couple of weeks, Usha returned to her hostel in Dhaka to resume her stalled academic activities.  Unfortunately she too had an accident falling from the stairs of the hostel on the very day she returned to her hostel in Dhaka. Ms. Usha, like her elder sister, was also admitted to CRP as a traumatic paraplegic patient in October, 2011. The sisters are now being treated by a Multi-Disciplinary Team and they are progressing gradually. Usha was struggling very much at Eden Mohila College due to a wheelchair inaccessible environment. With the support of Eden Mohila College authority, CRP was able to make a ramp in front of her college hostel and make the room accessible. Recently she has attended her mock examination for 3rd year final exam and is expected to sit the final exam soon.