The woman behind the wheels  

Deepa Joseph : Manorama

For Deepa Joseph, driving an ambulance is not just a job but it’s also a vehicle to steer her away from her woes. She has been driving vehicles for the last 16 years.

A divorcee, she has two children and house rent to take care of. Right now she drives the Pranavam Charitable Trust Ambulance. Earlier she used to drive school and college buses.

Eight months ago when her 13-year-old daughter was bit by a viper, it was this job that helped her to cover the hospital expenses. When Ayurveda worsened her condition, she was admitted to a Kozhikode Private hospital. She received monetary help from some kind souls for her daughter’s dialysis, which had to be done 12 times, and other medical expenses.

Though they offered her money after discharging Angle from the hospital, Deepa refused to accept it. But then she didn’t realise that more expenses were awaiting her at home. Her daughter had hair loss, partial vision loss, and brittle bone condition during the following days.

Though some thought of building a house for Deepa and her children, since she didn’t have a land of her own, that didn’t materialize. Currently, she is paying Rs 5000 for their rented house. Meanwhile, Deepa continues to bravely keep her family together by driving vehicles around.  

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