When Shilpi lost her leg to complications from leprosy, her husband left — twice — even taking the profits from her small tea stall before vanishing again. Left pregnant and alone with her children, Shilpi was evicted and forced to beg to survive. Yet, every day, she smiles through pain for her children’s sake. “I have no hope for myself,” she says, “but I have hope for my children.” Her strength embodies why every mother deserves dignity, protection, and a future — no matter the obstacles.
At 23-years old, Shilpi had a daughter, a son, and a husband who reliably supported the family. Shilpi’s life changed with a simple cooking accident. One day, she burned herself but she didn’t notice any pain. Soon after, her fingers began to claw inward. Because of community awareness-raising initiatives, she already knew what it could mean. She went to the hospital immediately. She heard the words that she feared most:
“you have leprosy.”
Unfortunately, she was among the unlucky few who have a leprosy reaction after her first dose of multi-drug therapy – the cure for leprosy. One of her feet lost all sensation and developed ulcers. These ulcers grew and became infected – Shilpi’s leg needed to be removed so that she could live.
Shilipi’s husband left her and his 2 children as soon as he learned that Shilpi would lose her leg. Shilpi received a small grant and from our partner in Bangladesh. She opened a successful tea stall – a perfect fit because she could remain seated through the day. Shilpi’s husband learned of her success with the tea stall and returned to the family. At the end of each day, he demanded all the revenue from the stall, including money reserved for restocking the snacks and tea. Before long, Shilpi ran out of supplies and had to close.
With this development, Shilpi’s husband abandoned the family for a second time – leaving her pregnant and penniless. For women in some countries where we work, customs, and even laws, protect men who act in such terrible ways. There was no legal recourse for Shilpi in her situation, nor did she have resources to pursue action.
Soon, Shilpi could not make rent. She and her children were evicted. “The ground was gone,” she said, describing her feelings of fear and uncertainty, “nothing was underneath me,” she remembers.
But Shilpi is a superhero mom. Every day, no matter how much pain she is in, she goes out to earn money for her children the only way she can – begging and charity. “I laugh for my children. I stay strong for them,” Shilpi bravely explained. “I have no hope for myself, but as long as God keeps me alive, I have hope for my children.”
