Overview

• After polio paralyzed her below the waist, she continued to move around in a wheelchair. But a few years later in 2000, she was diagnosed with cancer making things much more difficult for her. She successfully underwent chemotherapy at Amala Hospital, Thrissur. While at the hospital, she counseled other patients and instilled hope in them for their future
• “By 2004, she had returned to her work, but another tragedy struck her. She slipped on the floor of her bathroom breaking her spinal vertebral column and bringing her movements to a virtual halt. She was partially paralyzed below the neck. Later, due to the non-functioning of muscles, she had to resign to life with a urine bag. As she lay on the waterbed, trying to cope with the pain and inability, she started writing her memories on pages of notebooks using colored pencils. Despite the odds, she still continues her work alongside 100 other volunteers at Chalanam with continued determination.
• Her autobiography, Swapnangalkku Chirakukalundu (Dreams have wings) was released in April 2009. Sukumar Azhikode hailed it as compared to some of the greatest biographies in history.[11] An earlier collection of her memoirs Mouna Nombarangal (Silent Tears) had been released by the Chief Minister of Kerala V. S. Achuthanandan on 26 October 2006. She has also authored 3 other books. She uses the royalty from the book for her medical expenses
• he was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in January 2022.