Poem-Where are you mom.

                               The soul behind the service

Little did he know that he will be managing a complete nest of birds when he saved the life of a pigeon. Dr.Dodd, the Medical Superintendent of GKF Hospital, says from a very young age he had the urge and impulse to help others. “I was ten years old I guess, I saw a pigeon bleeding, after it hit a fence and ripped open its front part, I took the bird and I operated it with a thread and needle along with some turmeric” he laughs. “The bird was normal again in a few days. That is when I discovered my true passion to help others” he says. The GKF Hospital was found by an orphan named Grace from Thirunelveli, she was the one who decided that orphans should have a home to look up to and should never be left astray for every child deserves a far better life. It was only because of her benefaction GKF supports orphan babies and kids, under “Mazhalai Illam”. Dr.Dodd alerted on the top three major illegal trades- Arms trade, Drugs trade, and Human Trafficking. He mainly emphasized on human trafficking and slavery, on how the traffickers trap millions of people from the poor strata of the society in horrific situations to earn money. Children are much affected because of the trafficking and he remarked that those “children die within the age of 7, due to malnourishment, continuous hunger and constant negligence”. Protecting the children by providing them a ‘safety net’ or ‘security net’ for the children to depend on due to holes in the system is one the main responsibility he adds. In a world full of cruelty and malice it is rare to find such a soulful person, who considers himself responsible for taking care of the kids, Gandhi said “In a gentle way you can shake the world”, he shook the society with the real hardcore facts.

One of the significant safety nets is Legal Adoption, which provides the kids a chance to live the life they deserve, the life that they were born to live. Adopting one child won’t change the world: but for that child, the world will change, he quotes. Mazhalai Illam takes care of orphaned, abandoned and surrendered babies in and around Madurai. According to the new study conducted by SOS Children’s village, international Children’s charity, it is found that 4% or 20 million of India’s children’s population are abandoned, by their parents except for 0.3% whose parents have died. Many kids do not survive the harsh realities and unrelenting, inhumane nature of mankind and are often trampled, without a chance for survival. Dr.Dodd shares that the ultimate mission of the foundation is to “find a home for every child” by creating awareness on adoption. He also indicated that the home for each child is based on the best interest of the kids. He quotes Nelson Mandela “History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children” and urges society to create a difference in the lives of the children. Dr.Dodd says we live in a world where people fight for various rights under the tag of human rights, but many overlook even the basic ‘right to life’ that is denied for many babies. He feels every baby regardless of anything has the ‘right to life’. GKF fights in support of this basic right among all other growing concerns.

 The foundation is a self-sufficient organisation. GkF Hospitals provides various community services other than medical ministrations. These services purely aim to support the kids under Mazhalai Illam. “The hospital and other services provided like community college, beauty clinic and spa services, are the well from which water is drawn, to irrigate the land, Mazhalai Illam,” he says. Mazhalai Illam is the land with splendour grass, for nothing can dim the light that radiates from grass and flowers, that grows within, with the support of such an altruistic soul. These services purely aim to succour Mazhalai Illam, just to sustain the million-dollar smiles in the faces of the little ones

 “Everyday thousand seeds are planted a thousand seeds grow, Many are trampled upon by mankind only some survive with a divine glow”

The foundation has also launched a symbol in support of finding home for every child. The symbol is a black shield with an orange ribbon in it. December 20 is universally dedicated to supporting the cause. The symbol was launched with a concert in Madurai recently by Pragathi Guruprasad in an aim to raise funds to support the kids and to create awareness in adoption. GKF aims to support these kids and aids in giving them a chance towards life. It is a trivial act before the overall figures, but that single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions and the roots spring up and make new trees, as Earhart says. It is towards the growth and sustenance of the kids that GKF strives hard to achieve. Dr.Dodd is truly an epitome of kindness and benevolence that he thrives to make a difference in such an erratic world of humans. Mother Theresa said, “It is not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts” for, Dr.Dodd is truly passionate and loving in what he does. “Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love” and he is one great example for today’s younger generation.