A tree after 23 years!

The Christmas tree in our garden is now 23 years old, since we received it!

Anna and I relocated at CMC Vellore from Chennai, when ASHIRVAD Child Development Centre got incorporated with CMC Vellore to begin the Developmental Paediatrics unit in 1997. It was the first teaching department of its nature in any Medical College in India. The unit was created by a Memorandum of Understanding between CMC and ASHIRVAD.

This Christmas tree was gifted to us by our colleagues in the Developmental Paediatrics Unit when we had our Christmas get together at our home in December, 1997  We remember, Premila, Annie, Shekar, Mathulla, Jeena, and few others who were in the team, who visited our home with this plant. 

We received this plant as a sapling in an earthen garden pot, which we took care and brought with us when we came to live in our present cottage in 2012. It was little less than five feet at that time, still in the same pot. Since it was planted in our garden, it has grown to be a tree with about 70 feet high since then. Excepting that it is slanting, every thing about the tree is awe-inspiring.

Anna and I recall the good will we received form all those at the Unit even from the start of the department in February, 1997.

The tree symbolises our history and journey to spread the message of caring for children with neuro-developmental needs. Every time we see this tree, we remember the beginning at Vellore and feel overwhelmed by what has become of that small beginning. The Developmental Paediatrics Unit is now a large unit with about thirty professionals in the department. The department would celebrate its 25 the anniversary in 2022.  

ASHIRVAD came in to being on 14th November in 1983 and its Child Development Centre at Anna Nagar, Chennai was the only such facility in Chennai at that time. That is now 37 years ago! ASHIRVAD helped in beginning the ASHA school at St Andrews Church, Egmore, Chennai and the ASHIRVAD  Early Learning Centre between 1983 and 1991

The Developmental Paediatrics and Child Neurology department at MOSC Medical College, for which ASHIRVAD had a role to play in its beginning would celebrate its eight anniversary on 14 September, 2020.   

The Christmas tree is symbol of a journey, since 1997.

Anna and I remember INTERSERVE, which supported us till 1997, friends of ASHIRVAD in Britain, Germany, Australia, Canada, USA and India, who accompanied us in this journey with their liberal giving and prayer. We remember many professionals gratefully, who have been part of this journey and for defining the content and contours of the service for children. 

We feel moved when we recall that all these were possible! None of it was in our dream or plan. Each step followed the other and we keep wondering at the sequence of events, leading us to be where we are now! 

It is also a time to remember thousands of families and children who visited us in Chennai, Vellore, Pondicherry, and Kolenchery. They were from whom we learned about the spectrum of the developmental needs of children, which helped us to design appropriate home based support programme for children. The parents and children were my tutors! Anna and I am grateful!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)