Indian Grandmother selflessly knits over 250 caps for newborn children in US hospital while on vacation #HeroesOfKindness

Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan
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Unlike the nearly 200 Heroes of Kindness stories that I have collected over the years from across the world, this one is a little different for me - you see, there is no news article about this woman. I came across her deeds thanks to a series of tweets put out by her son and was intrigued by the story. 

Despite suffering from a spondylosis condition that made it tough to use her hands, Mrs Prabha Mishra persevered and knitted over 250 caps for newborn babies while on vacation in USA.


Prabha Mishra is an elderly grandmother based in Lucknow. A homemaker while her husband was alive, she found herself looking for ways to keep herself occupied after he passed away in 2008. One of the skills she had put to good use for over 6 decades had been her talent in knitting and it was this skill that caught my eye. This, and her amazing selflessness.

During a visit to the United States to see her daughter, Mrs Prabha chose to go the extra mile and spend her extra time while on vacation knitting caps for new born babies at a nearby hospital at absolutely no cost. She ended up knitting over 200 caps, much to the delight and surprise of both the hospital staff as well as the newborn mothers. 

What makes her act all the more heartwarming is that she did this while suffering from a painful spondylosis condition that severely restricted the use of her hands!

Curious to know more, I got in touch with her son, Sudhanshu Mishra.

Did your mother ever tell you what motivated her to knit her first set of caps?

She has been fond of knitting right from the time she was a child. She has been very creative with it, and during her youth even won some prizes in Air Force Ladies Club (AFFWA) competitions for her knitting. There is nobody in her extended family who has not worn garments knitted by her.

Real Life Heroes who will restore your faith in Humanity - Prabha Mishra
Everyone in this photo, from her children to her grandchildren, and even extended family have over the decades worn caps knitted by this selfless woman


How many caps do you reckon she has made over the years?

I would think she has been knitting for at least 60 years. Caps are not the only item she knits, but she would have knitted more than 500 caps in her life time

During her last two visits to the US (my sister lives in Scottsdale, Arizona) she has knitted close to 250 caps for new born babies at this hospital. I would think that she would have knit at least as many if not more caps for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other members of the family.

Despite suffering from a spondylosis condition that made it tough to use her hands, Mrs Prabha Mishra persevered and knitted over 250 caps for newborn babies while on vacation in USA.

Despite suffering from a spondylosis condition that made it tough to use her hands, Mrs Prabha Mishra persevered and knitted over 250 caps for newborn babies while on vacation in USA.
Some of the hundreds of caps knit by Mrs Prabha Mishra

What your mother did in USA for new born children there is simply amazing. Does this selflessness of hers extend beyond knitting to other aspects of her life too?

She does like to help people but she has been a full time house wife all her life and all her time was spent in caring for the family and doing household chores, like a typical Indian middle class housewife of the 1970's, 80's and 90's. After that she spent most of her time looking after her ailing husband. But after her husband passed away in 2008, she has found herself with a lot of free time since she does not have any dependent family members. She has been using this time to help people in whichever possible. 

Real Life Heroes who will restore your faith in Humanity - Prabha Mishra
With her son, Sudhanshu Mishra


She visits an old age home near her residence from time to time to find out the needs of people there, and helps them with food items, medicines, fruits, clothes, etc. She is not able to knit too much now because of a condition related to age in her nervous system but she still persists with it as much as she can. 

The reason for knitting in the US started as a way to do something in her free time. But gradually she fell in love with the purpose and worked as hard as she could to knit as many caps as she could.

Have you received feedback from the staff at the hospital (HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center)?

My sister keeps in touch with the hospital and told me that they were very grateful and wanted to felicitate her along with a few other volunteers, but they could not schedule it during her visit so my sister participated in the event on her behalf.

Real Life Heroes who will restore your faith in Humanity - Prabha Mishra
Prabha Mishra with her daughter


Most women would yearn to get some time to just relax from household work, especially as the years go by. The thought of using the time while on vacation abroad to help absolute strangers in that country can come only from a heart that is genuinely kind and pure. 

To do all this while suffering from a condition that makes it painful for one's else - that is what makes this remarkable woman, Mrs Prabha Mishra, a true Hero of Kindness.

Real Life Heroes who will restore your faith in Humanity - Prabha Mishra


Author's note:


I have been tracking lovely human beings from across the world for years now and have found children as young as six years old and old women in their eighties who will restore your faith in humanity.

Want more stories of compassion to brighten up your day? 
 


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18Comments

Let me know what you think.

  1. A very noble deed aunty.The very fact that I am from Lucknow too ,makes me feel so proud.It shows age cannot be a barrier if someone wants to help.

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    1. It is definitely something to be proud of... Age is no barrier for a kind heart

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    2. Am Laura Mildred by name, i was diagnosed with Herpes 4 years ago i lived in pain with the knowledge that i wasn't going to ever be well again i contacted so many herbal doctors on this issue and wasted a large sum of money but my condition never got better i was determined to get my life back so one day i saw Mr. Morrison Hansen post on how Dr. Emu saved him from Herpes with herbal medicine i contacted Dr. Emu on his Email: Emutemple@gmail.com we spoke on the issue i told him all that i went through and he told me not to worry that everything will be fine again so he prepared the medicine and send it to me and told me how to use it, after 14 days of usage I went to see the doctor for test,then the result was negative, am the happiest woman on earth now thanks to Dr. Emu God bless you. Email him at: Emutemple@gmail.com Whats-app or Call him: +2347012841542 

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  2. Such a nice person. Age or means is no barrier to help. If you want to, you just will. Prabha ma'am goes on to show it.

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  3. Replies
    1. She truly is. I hope others too follow her lead.

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  4. Truly inspiring! Love the layout of the caps in those pics! Sudhanshu must have shared them, right?

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    1. Yes. I got in touch with him for the interview and pics.

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  5. This is such a sweet story Roshan and I wish her great health and god wishes. You are such a dedicated researcher and the way you find out these stories is just amazing- loved it!

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  6. What an incredible story! So inspiring. Roshan, I am so so blessed to know you(virtually). How you bring these stories to light is amazing. Thank you for sharing such stories and in the process helping us to become better people.

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  7. I love this story. My mother was a good knitter and many babies and adults profited from her craft. I've been thinking of doing something similar since I love knitting too. Thank you for sharing another inspiring story, Roshan.

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  8. Blogging is that the new poetry. I notice it terrific and wonderful in some ways.

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  9. Thanks for sharing beautiful designs i will definitely try it.
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