This story was written by Dan Vander Meer of the Human Resource Department of Meijer, Inc.
Lita Kharmai's Compassion Changes Young
Girl's Life
Because Lita Kharmai showed an interest
in a girl she'd never met, that girl may
soon be walking normally for the first time.
Lita, who works in the Benefits
Department, went to Guyana, South
America this past April to escort 13-year-
old Preeya Permaul to the United
States for surgery to correct her clubfeet.
Lita first heard about Preeya from her
brother who works establishing churches
in Guyana. After hearing about the girl's
condition, Lita got the idea that someone
must be able to help Preeya get the
surgery she needed. Turns out that that
someone was Lita.
After calling doctors herself, Lita
contacted an organization called Healing
The Children. They took an interest. After
getting photos showing the girl's condition, the organization set about lining up surgeons and a host family where Preeya could stay for her recovery.
"Since this was something I wanted for Preeya, a girl I didn't even know, I
emailed her pastors in Guyana asking them to ask Preeya's parents if they
would agree to the surgery," says Lita. "Preeya's parents agreed the same
day I wrote."
So Lita and her daughter, Nadia, traveled to Guyana to get Preeya. Since
then Preeya has had surgery on one foot. She'll recover for a time and then
have surgery on the other foot. There will be a few more surgeries and a
long recovery. Preeya will stay with her host family for about 18 months.
Preeya is doing well, despite the distance from home, separation from her
family and the actual surgery.
"It has been a remarkable experience for us all," Lita says, "we're praying
for a total success."
Lita Kharmai Updates Young Girl's Progress
Towards Full Recovery
Lita Kharmai, who works in the Benefits
Department, is celebrating the successful
surgery performed on her young friend,
Preeya Permaul to correct the girl's clubfeet.
Preeya is from Guyana and Lita brought her
here for surgery after taking an interest in
the girl through connections with church
members there. Preeya had surgery on one
foot about eight months ago and just this past
December 3 had surgery on the other.
"With God's help, this young lady will go home by next Thanksgiving, able to walk normally, play jump skip and all the rest of the things we take for granted," Lita says.
"Preeya wore a shoe for the first time in her life, and it was exciting."
Lita wants to especially thank the doctors from Foot and Ankle Specialist of West Michigan, St. Mary's hospital staff, and all the other specialists nurses and physical therapists who have been involved.
Preeya is staying with a host family while she recovers completely from the surgery.Then she will return home to her family.
Preeya Permaul came to the United States in April, 2002 to undergo surgery to correct her club-feet. Benefits' Lita Kharmai met the girl in Guyana and arranged to bring her here for the surgery. Lita also found a host family for Preeya to live for the lengthy time she would stay in the U.S.
Her host family Cheryl and Jim Buist kept up with Preeya's appointments. She had several surgeries to correct her club-feet. Her feet are now straightened. She is having physical therapy
twice a week. She now wears
orthotics, which she will have
to wear for the rest of her life.
She is learning to walk properly so she can be like everyone else.
Preeya is sad about leaving
her kind and loving host family
