IVF mothers recall tsunami horror
Many mothers, who had undergone sterilisation after child births, lost their children
ALAPPUZHA: The tsunami of December 26, 2004 took a heavy toll of human lives everywhere, including in Azheekkal and Tharayilkadavu area of Kollam district.
Many mothers, who had undergone sterilisation after child births, lost their children. But a mass campaign of in-vitro fertilisation sponsored by Amritanandamayi Math after the disaster came to their rescue.
The children born in that process are leading a healthy life as testified by persons like R. Priya, 32, and J. Asha, 35, living in an area named Prathyasha Nagar at Pattathilkadavu, Clappana panchayat, Kollam district.
After they both lost their two children in the tsunami, they underwent IVF even though they were sceptical of the method. Asha, who got a boy, said she had lost all hopes of having a baby in her late thirties.
Her two daughters, Prathibha, 9, and Kripa, 6, were washed away in the tsunami. Her son Amrithesh, now 5, was born to her as a result of IVF treatment. “His health is quite good and he is a class II student,” she says.
Twins Amritan and Amrita were born to Priya, whose two children Kiran, 5, and Kingini, 2, were killed in the floods. “My children are extremely naughty. They feel hungry all the time and are healthy,” she says.
There were about seven IVF children in the area. As of now, only two families remain in the colony. The rest have fled from the coastal area fearing yet another tsunami.