Loneliness, Loss, and Living On: Gulabibai’s Story

Gulabibai lives in Palkha, a village in Dhadgaon, Nandurbar. She’s seventy five. She made ropes, cared for her family, and kept her home running. These days she is living with coronary artery disease. Her body feels heavier than before, and even short walks leave her breathless. Most of her time is spent in the courtyard, watching her grandchildren play. Her son Suresh is her main caregiver, and the KeSVF team visits her regularly. They support her with medicines, active listening, and provided her with a walker, which helps her move around safely and gives her a little more independence.

Her husband, who was close to a hundred, had a leg wound that turned into a serious infection. His health slowly worsened, his legs swelled, fluid gathered in his lungs, and weakness kept him in bed. The family’s worry about him often made Gulabibai’s chest pain worse. She would say, “When he suffers, I feel it too.” The team supported both of them, helping with his wound care and guiding the family through those difficult months.

When her husband passed away, the house grew quieter. She told the team, “You have always been with us in our joys and sorrows.” Since then, she has been trying to adjust to life without him. She still uses her walker and keeps her routine, but she often says she feels lonely. The team spends time talking with her, listening to her memories, encouraging her to walk a little, and reminding her she is not alone.

Recently another worry entered her life. Her younger son was diagnosed with a brain tumour and is preparing for surgery. She says, “Now my son is sick too. I don’t know how much more I can bear.” With this, she feels even more vulnerable. Sometimes she thinks she is becoming a burden on her family. These feelings of guilt and fear mix with her physical tiredness, making her days heavier. Her son has now been brought under KeSVF’s care and will be supported by the team, which brings her some reassurance. The team offers presence, counsels her gently, helping her manage her stress and reminding her that she deserves care and dignity, even as she worries about her son.

The courtyard is her world, a space where she can still see life moving around her. The KeSVF visits bring rhythm and reassurance. She says, “It feels better when you come. I feel like someone remembers me.”

We are deeply indebted to our field team members Dasharath Shinde and Yateen Sawant, whose care went beyond physical comfort to encompass the power of presence.