In January last year, a rainy day turned into a nightmare for Poonam. She was cooking some refreshments to enjoy the evening when hot oil splashed onto her face, setting her scarf on fire. The burns spread quickly across her neck, chest, and back of her neck, leaving her scarred for life.

“That day changed everything for me. The pain was unbearable, but what hurt more was how people treated me afterwards. They thought I had tried to end my life because of my divorce. I wish they believed the truth.” -Poonam

Divorced, she was subject to the scrutiny of the society

Poonam got married in 2019 and due to domestic abuse by her husband, filed a divorce in 2021. Life was only getting better for her after the divorce but when the accident happened, the judgement by the society only got worse.

“I was passed comments like- ‘oh she tried to attempt suicide because of depression, the divorce must have been tough’, ‘she divorced, that’s why this happened’. No one believed the truth, infact they didn’t care about the emotional and physical pain I was going through” -Poonam

She needs plastic surgery to live a pain free life

Poonam’s injuries have left her unable to lift her head, eat, or drink properly. The burns were so severe that her neck and chin had to be stitched together. Now, doctors recommend plastic surgery to help her live a better life. The treatment will cost 4 lakh rupees, which her family cannot afford.

“Seeing my daughter in so much pain breaks my heart. We sold our house to pay for her initial treatment, and now we need more money for surgery. I work as a construction labourer, earning only 5000 rupees a month. It’s just not enough.“- Ram Lal, father

Dream of building a better future for herself is slipping away

Poonam’s education stopped after completing her 12th standard as her family comes from a humble background with limited resources. After the divorce, Poonam worked hard as a daily wager at a brick manufacturing factory and dreamt, in fact dared to study further and build a better future, for her and her family.

Now, she stays indoors, avoiding neighbours who wrongly believe she attempted suicide due to her divorce. Despite her circumstances, Poonam’s spirit remains strong. She hopes to recover and continue her journey towards a better life.

A desperate mother’s pleas to save her child

Poonam has lost 9kgs of weight and will continue to lose more without immediate action. The very surgery that saved her life is making her life painful. She can’t eat or drink, she can’t move or lift her head. She is struggling every breathing second just to make through the day.

“She has always been a fighter, but it hurts to watch her fight this time. She is struggling to even move and to add to her physical turmoil, the neighbours and our relatives, they don’t leave a single chance to bring her spirit down. I just want a better life for my child. She has seen a lot of pain. Now, I want her to live her life to the fullest. But for that to happen, she needs this surgery and we are failing to afford it.”- Sampatiya, mother

Poonam also has two siblings, a brother and a sister who are studying in 10th and 8th respectively. They always looked up to her for guidance, but watching her sister in pain is unbearable for the young ones. They hope and pray that her sister is back to normal and is full of life like she used to be.

You can help Poonam get back on her feet. Donate to the cause and help this young woman get the surgery as soon as possible.