| “Sanvedana”
Epilepsy Support Group
Coming together to make a difference…
Sanvedana is Epilepsy Support
Group, started on the 22nd February 2004. The founder of a group
is Yashoda Wakankar. She herself was suffering from this problem
for as almost 23 years. So she knew the psychological condition
of the concerned person and also her/his parents. So, after her
successful brain surgery at Trivandrum, she decided to start such
a group, where people with epilepsy will come together and help
each other out of this problem.
Sanvedana is a support group of the people with
epilepsy, for people with epilepsy and by
the people with epilepsy. Being a self-help group, the members
have a monthly meeting where they discuss their
problems and their views on the problem and in general. Around
40-50 members come to every meeting. Any new information published
anywhere on epilepsy is shared here at this meeting. A new member
if any is welcomed into the group. Also, when an old member returns
after her/his surgery, she/he is congratulated and welcomed back
in the group. Some times we invite the expertise for the lectures
related to this subject, like ‘Yoga and Epilepsy’,
‘Diet and Epilepsy’, ‘Parenting’, ‘Hobbies’
etc.
Sanvedana has started a counseling center
as well. At our counseling center, we have people coming from
far and near, to share their problems on epilepsy. They are many-a-times
scared to do so in a group, so they prefer the counseling center.
We also counsel those who want to undergo brain surgery. A detailed
procedure and the whole process of the operation, right from getting
admitted to getting discharged from the hospital are explained.
We also help people from the rural areas with donations for medicines.
We have been lucky that we get quite a few donors who are ready
to pay for the medicines for those who cannot afford them.
Also, now, Sanvedana holds a special meeting for the youngsters,
or the members of the age group 18 to 30 every Saturday. Here,
the youngsters discuss other things than their epilepsy problem.
Small games, skits etc are talked on here. Sometimes, a special
guest is an invitee and the group shared their thoughts and views
on whatever the topic of discussion is with that day’s special
guest. Jokes are shared and riddles are solved. Sometimes a big
riddle or a puzzle is given to the group and the answer is sought
for mutually… together.
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