Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Jul 28: A sentimental and emotional story comes along where Kusuma, who was found in a mentally unsound position twelve years back and was rehabilitated at White Doves, has finally reunited with her family on Sunday, July 28. This is the 387th case of a person reuniting with the family through White Doves under the leadership of Corrine Rasquinha.

Kusuma’s family arrived from Marripalem, Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh to Mangaluru on Saturday midnight and took Kusuma along with them on Sunday.

In the year 2009, Kusuma was found by the Pandeshwar police roaming around the city in a man’s attire and when she was only 21-years-old. Kusuma was found in a lungi, an unclean shirt and in an unstable state of mind. Police officials immediately contacted White Doves after learning Kusuma’s condition. Upon hearing the news Corrine Rasquinha, along with her staff, reached the spot as informed by the police and took Kusuma to a rehabilitation center. She was given a bath and for further medical treatment, sent to KMC hospital at Attavar. Over the next few days, Kusuma recovered quite well, but stayed silent most of the time. However, with the passage of time, she indulged in conversation with medical professionals around her and revealed her name to be Kusuma.

About three weeks back when the 386th reunification was taking place at White Doves, Kusuma expressed her desire to go home. Unfortunately, she could not recall her past; she repeatedly approached the founder of White Doves and requested to be sent home. On revealing her native place being in Andhra Pradesh, Jerald Fernandes, the manager of White Doves tried to find her roots which were to be found in Kothapalem, Krishna district and he was successful in contacting the Police Sub Inspector of the town Kusuma belonged to.

As per information provided by Jerald, the Police inspector contacted the village head who got in touch with Gudivaka Seshubabu, the village Revenue officer of Avanigadda village in Krishna District. While Jerald was contacting the police in Andhra, Kusuma asked him to refer her as Sivaleela to them and stated that it was the name people of her village knew her by.

In an police inquiry it was found that, 15 years back Kusuma lost her parents to HIV. She grew up with four sisters, and after the death of her parents she took over the responsibility of providing for her sisters education and getting them married. The stress of the responsibilities taken up by her at a very young teen age damaged her mentally causing to her to run away from her home. On several occasions her family used to find her sauntering around nearby villages, they used to bring her back home every time she ran away. In 2009, it went downhill as Kusuma ran further away from her village, making it difficult for her family to find her. The family lost hope after not hearing from her for several months.

On Jul 28, everything changed after the family came to know of her whereabouts, Kusuma reunited with her cousin brothers after ages. It was an emotional union and when both Kusuma her and brothers met after several years. After spending some time talking with her, Kusuma's brothers thanked White Doves for keeping her healthy and happy. By Sunday noon the family will be on their way back to their home.

There are three more individuals waiting to reunite with their family, one from UP, one from Uttarakhand and another from Maharashtra.