|PIC1|Annette first met 19-year-old Neela in a visit to an outreach medical camp run by Siloam Christian Ministries earlier this year.
The camp is located in a small church where Neela assists the pastor’s wife.
“Neela kindly brought us a cool drink. As she came closer, it was noticeable that the little necklace around her neck kept jumping up rhythmically,” recalls Annette.
Neela was 10 years old when she contracted rheumatic fever. Coming from a poor family, she was left with permanent heart problems. Her valves are enlarged, meaning that too much blood is pumped through her heart and her body feels overworked.
In spite of her health problems, Neela still fetches water every day, gathers logs for fuel and walks miles to buy food.
When she lies down at night to sleep, she often suffers frightening angina attacks but the cost of medical treatment is far beyond the means of her family.
After hearing of Neela’s plight, Annette felt moved to help.
“I looked again at Neela as she moved around, tending to the needs of others, a smiling face and helpful manner.
“She struck a chord in my heart and I thought, ‘Who will help Neela? If someone doesn’t come to her aid, what will happen to her?’
“The Bible says we are to be doers, not just hearers of the Word. I knew I couldn’t just walk away.”
Annette and her husband Chris arranged for Neela to have a consultation. The outcome was that Neela would need to have three heart valves replaced, costing in the region of £3,500 to £4,500.
Since returning to her home in Lincolnshire, Annette has talked to people about Neela’s deteriorating condition, delivered posters to local shop owners and traders, and appealed for support from the public.
“I have made a promise that Neela will get the operation she so desperately needs. I am not a natural fundraiser but this is a cause I feel driven to support,” says Annette.
“Neela’s situation has an emergency to it - she could die at any time. Yet this operation would be life saving.”
On the web: www.siloam.org.uk
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