Meet the Residents

Joe was from Camp, Belgaum. He used to sell fish at the Fish Market. He suffered a paralytic attack which left him disabled. His case was brought to a society member known to his family who asked the society member to help him as there was no one to look after him. Joe was admitted into Karunalaya. Inspite of medical treatment and regular massages Joe had not shown any signs of improvement and continued to remain in a wheel chair. He also suffered from epilepsy and was being treated for it. Joe passed away in our home.

Gadagawya was from the surrounding village of Sambra. He suffered from Parkinson disease. As he was not married and had no one to look after him, the Village Panchayat (local village governing body) requested the society members to take him into the Home to look after him. Gadagawya passed away in our home.

Mohammad was from a far away city of Ajmer in the Indian state of Rajasthan. He left home when he was young and came to Belgaum. He lived in the Muslim Mosque in Camp, Belgaum and used to help around by doing work in the Mosque. However, in May 2009, he suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed. Since he had no family to look after him, some members from the Mosque approached the society members to take him into Karunalaya. Mohammad passed away in our home.

Bhimappa was from the nearby village of Bailhongal. He used to live on the streets and fend for himself. However, he suffered a paralytic stroke and was lying on the road side when some Nuns noticed him. They admitted him to the Civil Hospital. After a week he was released from hospital, he was back on the streets and unable to work. The Nuns requested the society members to take Bhimappa into Karunalaya. Due to his paralysis, Bhimappa too, needed a lot of care and attention. Bhimappa passwed away in our home.

Dushrat was from Belgaum. He had a terrible fall one day that fractured his hip bone and was unable to move about anymore. Just as his luck would have it, his wife was a paralytic herself and they used to live in a very small one room house. There was no place for another patient in the home. He developed bed sores lying in the house as his wife was unable to look after him. Some people known to this family approached the society members to take Dushrat into Karunalaya. Sadly Dushrat passed away in our home and was unable to return home.

Gaurabai was from the nearby town of Angol. She used to work as a peon at the Divine Providence School, Belgaum. She was married but had no children. Her husband was an alcoholic and passed away. Gaurabai then adopted a handicapped child. She looked after him well and even got him married. But when she had no money left, the daughter-in-law took her son to her mother's house and refused to take Gaurabai along. This seemed to have affected Gaurabai deeply. She was deeply afflicted by hurt and seems to be the reason why she suffered a shock that left her paralyzed. To make matters worse, she developed cataract in one eye and became partially blind as well. She had no money for a cataract operation. Her neighbour, on seeing her pitiable condition, contacted the society members to take her into Karunalaya. Gaurabai passed away peacefully in our home.

Aruna was from Ramthirth, Belgaum. She was not married and used to live with her brother and sister-in-law. Unfortunately, her brother and sister-in-law both fell very ill. Her brother developed heart problems and her sister-in-law was on dialysis due to kidney problems. They both knew that they had little time left to live and wanted to keep Aruna where she would be kept well after they passed away. On purely sympathetic grounds and at the request of one of our own society members, Aruna was admitted into Karunalaya. Tragically, as soon as she was admitted into the Home, her sister-in-law passed away, and a month later, her brother passed away as well. Aruna also later passed away in our home.

Mary was unmarried and did a lot of social work in the Belgaum area. She continued to do her social work until she could not do it any longer as she got very sick. She approached us and asked if she could live the remainder of her days in Karunalaya. We looked after her until she passed away in our home.

Mainuddin had a lot going against him since he was young. He was handicapped since birth and an orphan. He used to live on the streets and beg for food. Until one day he got very sick and could not look after himself. The police requested us to keep him in Karunalaya. Mainuddin stayed at our home but passed away later.

Eliza was an orphan who lived all by herself. She was a chronic diabetic and her leg had to be amputated as a result of the disease. However, after the amputation the wound did not heal for a very long time. A nun from Goa brought her to Karunalaya. Eliza was with us for almost two years until she passed away peacefully in Karunalaya.

Devappa used to live on his own and beg on the streets of Belgaum. As he grew older, he could not walk as his legs were becoming weak and giving him immense trouble. He was brought to us by the police who requested us to keep Devappa in our home. After about a year or so, Devappa passed away at Karunalaya.

Ramchandra was found by our Karunalaya driver lying on the side of a road. He had collapsed and fallen on the road side due to starvation. We then later found out that his only son had died. He had left his home and kept walking for days not knowing where he was going. We took Ramchandra into our home and looked after him until he passed away peacefully in Karunalaya after a few months.

Narayan was brought to our home by the youth of St. Anythony's Church. He was found lying outside church compound. When he was found, he was in a terrible state. He had not eaten in days, his clothes were dirty and filthy and had become very weak. We took him into Karunalaya and looked after him. Narayan was found to have high diabetes for which he was treated. He later passed away in our home.

Cissy used to live with her sister and was suffering from acute arthiritis. As years went by, she could not walk any more and was confined to her bed itself. Her sister, unfortunately, got a paralytic stroke and that left both sisters bed ridden. Their neighbours contacted us and asked us to look after them as they were in such a miserable state. Cissy passed away after a few months she was with us and her sister was taken by a relative to be looked after.

Hirabai was unmarried who worked all her life as a domestic maid servant in people's houses. When she could not work any longer because of her failing health she was brought to Karunalaya by a social worker. We kept her in our home until she passed away peacefully.