#ThankfulThursdays Health is the Greatest Gift of Life

I really believe in this quote 

I have always been a healthy child in the family. Whereas my younger sister has always been weak and easily prone to diseases. Amma (my mother) always took care of her younger daughter more, as my sister's health was tizzy ever since she was born.

She was underweight when came into this world. She was a weak and dark tone girl child.When Amma delivered her second girl child, the emotional burden was high. People were mourning the birth of another girl child. However, Amma put her best in nurturing her second daughter. She did everything to boost her immunity. She opted natural remedies to make her skin colour fairer. She even followed many spiritual therapies. However, my sister was only a little better. I often felt Amm used to set herself responsible for my sister's poor health. When Amma was pregnant, I was already in her life. Apart from taking care of 3 years old me, she used to take care of the whole join family. No one was much helpful except my father. But he had a 9 to 5 job to go every day. Amma always felt it was her ignorance towards her maternity health that caused the vulnerability in my sister.

We both sisters got positive upbringing. We went to good schools and our parents always made sure to provide us all the resources that we ever needed. We never ever felt deprived of anything in life. Good clothes, good school accessories and good food, as kids, we enjoyed the life fullest. However, the health always created a difference in the way we both were growing. Every season change used to bring cold for my little sister. I used to make fun of her as her frock always had a handkerchief pinned for wiping the nose. Her studies were impacted when she suffered severe typhoid in her childhood. I remember my parents used to visit a new doctor every other day as my sister's fever was not letting her feel better.

Slowly things got better for her as Amma kept a careful watch on her diet and habits. Amma was always more strict and more caring for my younger sister. She did this to keep her away from falling sick which used to make her weaker. On the other hand, I was always physically fit. I used to fall sick rarely and this also helped in my studies and in my overall maturing. I never confirmed this to my parents, but I assume, they didn't allow my sister to go to a far city for higher studies just because of her health. And when she finally came out after completing her professional course, she had to tussle a lot with her sensitive body.

Gradually my sister also accepted the way her body used to behave. One after another, she faced many health issues. And even a year before, she fought a critical illness of stomach TB.  It was diagnosed after years and in absence of proper treatment, her health was continuously deteriorating.We were grateful to God and her attending doctor who helped her fight this battle. This happened after she got married and I realized that after Amma, now her husband is very much caring towards her. Succeeding the treatment, the whole last year she recovered very well and now she is all happy and healthy. She takes care of her wisely. She keeps a distance from the things that affect her health.

Now, let me come to my point. I narrated this story of my sister's health, as all my life, from childhood to adulthood, I saw her lagging behind just because her health conditions were not always favourable. She was equally able, intelligent and skilled person. But her health issues, often made her feel inadequate. I have literally lived a the time when good health is the only thing we, as her family, wished for her. The greatest wealth is our health. And no one understands this better than my very courageous and jolly sister.

I am really thankful for my health that never set any obstacle in my growth and success. Even if I fell sick, I recovered speedily. Before my pregnancy, I never faced any physical discomfort as such. My fitness also contributed to the healthy delivery of my son. My pregnancy went absolutely good and after my son came out, I heard the paediatrician saying "After a long time, I am seeing a newborn this much healthy."

Now when I am also a mother and know a lot about motherhood and it's connection with wellness, I agree to some extent what Amma used to feel. Taking care of herself during the pregnancy is very much important for every mother. This is helpful for her and as well as for the other soul that resides inside her. Mother's well-being plays a bigger role in creating the future vigour of the child. I understand, in many families, no one pays attention to the pregnant woman's bliss. But the mother should herself think about her physical and mental wellness. For her, pregnancy could be a phase of 10 months. However, for the baby, this care makes the foundation of her overall growth and flowering. The greatest gift a mother can give her family and the world is healthy she.

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