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In Jo's Blog

Manoj passed away this morning.

Smiling, happy photo of a young man in a black t-shirt

For the past ten days, I kept thinking I should post an update about his condition. I kept holding off, hoping for better news to share.

After our initial despair – Manoj was critically injured in an attempted hit and run -Manoj had seemed, against all odds, to be poised for a recovery. The surgeon was astonished. He had given him only a five percent chance of survival and here this boy was sitting up, signaling and responding to commands.

He was released from the ICU and taken off the ventilator. His brothers and his best friends were ecstatic. You could have lit up a whole city with the lights in their eyes.

Then suddenly, he began to go downhill. Infection after infection. Coughing up blood. Vomiting it. And this morning, the end.

Manoj’s short, graceful life and his painful, horrific death have marked us all. We will never be the same. The precariousness of our time on the earth and the randomness of what happens to us could not have been more graphically illustrated.

But just as vividly, just as beautifully, we have witnessed and experienced the power of love. I am overwhelmed with admiration and respect for the devotion of Manoj’s family and friends, for the steadfast support of his colleagues in the Foundation and for the outpouring of generosity from our dear ones around the world.

No one should ever have to go through what Manoj went through. Yet even a tragedy of this magnitude has its strange and unanticipated rewards. I am so proud to be a part of the Latika Roy Foundation family. Today I witnessed it coming together to honor and support one of its own.

Not with empty words or meaningless gestures, no! This support is concrete and activity-based. Manoj’s wife will take his place. His daughter will be brought up within the Foundation. Our love for Manoj extends to the next generation. Pratiyek anmol. Everyone is precious.

Rest in peace, Manoj. Your daughter, your wife – they are here with us. We will not let them go.

 

Showing 5 comments
  • chicu
    Reply

    oh Jo..such terrible news. And while it seems wrong to use the word ‘lucky’, Manoj’s family is fortunate to have a support system. so many others dont.

  • Nandita de Souza
    Reply

    One could not have conveyed more poignantly the pain and tragedy of death, especially in someone as young and full of life and promise as Manoj. However you and the entire LRF family have proved that though Death is final, the triumph belongs to Love. Sending you a tight embrace in solidarity.

  • Shipra
    Reply

    The LRF family embraces genuine love and concern and acts like a balm – I have experienced it, Jo….and Manoj’s wife and daughter are part of us now…he knew as much and would have gone in peace. Love all of you….

  • Shipra
    Reply

    The LRF family embraces with genuine love and concern and acts like a balm – I have experienced it, Jo….and Manoj’s wife and daughter are part of us now…he knew as much and would have gone in peace. Love all of you….

  • zephyr
    Reply

    Oh no. When there was no news about Manoj after the one announcing him being out of the ICU, I believed that no news was good news. And now this. His soul will rest in peace knowing that his wife and daughter are in safe hands.

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