An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide: A Salute To Houston’s Sikh Community

Eighteen years ago, a dear friend of mine of more than thirty- eight years, died suddenly leaving behind a young and issueless widow. This was his second marriage and the bride was seventeen years younger than him. She had been a naturalized US citizen for more than twenty years, had very little education, practically no skills, and was shy and very introverted. All these years, she worked in a department store as a clerk at the cash register, making just about minimum wage. Through her employer, she did have a medical insurance coverage.

Four years ago, in October, she went to India to visit her ailing father and other family members. Within two hours of her arriving in New Delhi, she suffered a heart attack and stroke and was paralyzed on her left side. She spent the next four months in New Delhi in hospitals and rehab centers, and with her family, where she improved a little, but not much.

Then she took the courage to return to Houston on her own. When we went to the airport to pick her up, we quickly realized that she needs a great deal of medical care and cannot live alone. She cannot even take a single step on her own, her left hand and foot are paralyzed and do not move at all. After a few medical check-ups, we arranged for her to be admitted in a skilled nursing care facility. As we started this process, we found out that she has no cash balance, is under debt with many credit cards running into at least twelve thousand dollars, needs money to pay her medical deductions, monthly rent for her apartment, monthly car payment, several other bills, and requires frequent driving to her medical appointments (it is very difficult for her to get in and out of the car even with assistance), help buying medicine, communicating with her employer, visiting the social security office for disability income, and daily visits. After doing all of these things for nearly four weeks, my wife and I became exhausted.

She and her late husband belong to Sikh community. I made an appeal via a simple email to an individual who is a respected person within the Houston Sikh community; I simply asked him to help this person in as many ways as possible.

Within a few days, miracles started happening from the Sikh community. Very quickly, offers started pouring in for money donations, community people and families arrived to meet and visit with her and take care of her, and also help came from several medical doctors (including a neurologist, internist, and others) to offer not only all medical help but also go far beyond in all respects.

Within a couple of days, due to their help, she was admitted to a high class intensive care rehabilitation center cum hospital where, after many tests, her problems have been diagnosed, her proper treatment has started, some money has been raised, and a stream of people call and visit her often and are doing their very best to put her back on her feet.

I am really delighted and amazed at the outpouring of unconditional support and care by the Sikh community to offer its very best with compassion. I salute them for this culture of “love thy neighbor” in practice and not in talk only. I wonder how many other communities do that!