Inspirational Women from the TMA Community
Business Economics: Kolkata, India

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Business Economics is a publication from Kolkata, India.  The April 1-15, 2010 issue was devoted to the topic of women; their status in society, in politics and government, in education and in business and economics.  The magazine addressed some incredibly important issues for Indian society.  The cover story for this issue was about “Overcoming Odds” and told the story of four inspirational women.  Three of the women featured in this article have transverse myelitis, Maggie Winston, Pauline Siegel and Sushma Rani.  One of the women has neuromyelitis optica, Grace Mitchell.  These are, indeed, very inspirational women.  The author of the article is a writer and reporter for Business Economics, Abhijit Ganguly.  Abhijit holds a master’s degree in Economics.

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Abhijt got TM when he was in his early 20s and became the TMA Support Group Leader in India.  Abhijit and I have become very close friends.  Abhijit has become very close friends with a lot of people in our community.  Abhijit has found a variety of ways to write about TM and the related disorders, and to feature stories about the people in our community.  He does an amazing job of creating awareness.  We are so grateful for Abhijit’s efforts. 

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This has been a very special year for Abhijit.  Our son, David and his wife, Kathryn, were invited to a wedding of a very close friend.  The wedding was to be held in Surat, India in December. When David and Kat told me that they were going to India, I asked them if they would be open to meeting Abhijit and to spending a couple of days with him.  They said that they would be honored to meet him.  Abhijit took his first plane flight from Kolkata to Surat and he spent two days living in the same house with David and Kathryn.  They did some sightseeing together and they spent two days visiting with each other.  David and Kat took Abhijit for his first meal at a McDonalds!  David and Kat understand my deep love, care and concern for Abhijit, and, thus, it was a very emotional visit for the three of them. 

Abhijit has helped to reinforce something that I have been learning since becoming involved in the TMA … our shared experiences have made the world a very small place.  Regardless of where you live, what language you speak, or your culture, the experiences you have had after getting ADEM, NMO, ON or TM have created an intense and lifelong connection between you and other people who have these disorders.  Thank you, Abhijit, for your constant concern and advocacy for the TMA worldwide community!