Recent history:
Over the last 10 years we have restored to health more than 8,000 patients, the majority returning to their localities, with some staying on as volunteers. In this time, 2,500 patients have died and received a dignified ‘multi-faith’ burial in our grounds. Currently we care for around 800 patients with and average of three dying each day.

What we do when a patient arrives
All patients are bathed and disinfected, their clothes removed and burned, their hair cut and wounds bandaged. They are given medication and re-hydrating fluids, housed in clean wards and fed three meals a day. Those who regain strength and survive can stay as volunteers, but most decide to return to their communities

Personal Stories from the hospices

Krishnar, in Tambaram

Krishnar, in Tambaram was wandering the streets of Chennai, abandoned by family, when he was struck by a car, taken to hospital and had his left leg amputated above the knee. Was discharged, but lacking any support he could not look after himself. With no mobility and no means of washing or going to the toilet, he shuffled about begging for food. All the time his wound was getting increasingly infected. When he was found at the railway station he was in a shocking condition, unable to move, filthy, and covered in his own excrement, flies all over him and near collapse.

After two months of respite and care he began to improve and his leg began to heal. When mostly recovered he asked if he could stay on and said he was a cook. Father Thomas agreed and he is now ‘king of the kitchen’.

Couple in Dindigul

Couple in Dindigul. An elderly woman, mentally ill, was found wandering the streets totally naked and filthy and the object of derision and scorn. While we do not normally admit mentally ill people, an exception was made in her case. She did partially recover, and with her mind improving, she was allowed to stay on to help feed the patients.

A while later, a blind man was picked up at virtually the same spot and taken in. He again was in a filthy state, emaciated and slowly dying. Over time he regained some strength but remained immobile and unable to look after himself. One day, the woman spoke particularly loudly to gain the attention of a patient, and in an adjacent bed the blind man heard her and recognised her voice. She was his wife. She, having wandered out of the home and he, unable to look after himself, also left to roam the streets. Their reunion was rejoiced all around the hospice and, now reunited, she is his constant carer.