No rest even in wheelchair: Ratnam is busy making artificial breasts for cancer patients

KOCHI: Retired teacher Ratnam, who contracted polio at the age of two and a half and lost her left leg, continues to inspire women suffering from cancer, at the age of 68. Ratnam makes artificial breasts (prosthesis/knockers) at a low cost for those who have had their breasts removed due to cancer.

Many people face problems like allergies due to artificial bras and artificial breasts made of sponge. The breasts that teacher Ratnam weaves from synthetic cotton are the solution to this.

The breast shape is hand-stitched on synthetic cotton thread and then stuffed with synthetic cotton, which is similar to cotton. This can be used inside the bra. The price is up to Rs. 1,500. It will be given free of cost to those who are economically backwards. It takes one and a half days to make one.

Ratnam, who weaves various shapes from woollen yarn, was asked by the Amala Cancer Research Centre in Thrissur if she could make artificial breasts. Ratnam, who had no experience with how to make them, learned the skill with the help of the internet. Now there are demands from other institutions.

Life filled with battles

Even though Ratnam passed her degree and B.Ed without giving up, even while in a wheelchair, she got a teaching appointment only after a long struggle. In 2002, at the age of 45, she got a job as a teacher at Cherpu Government HSS. In the meantime, her only daughter, Rachana Raj, got married. Ratnam's husband P.C. Rajan died in 2010. She received the award for the best differently-abled employee of the state government in 2011. Ratnam also won the Golden Mother Award from Calicut University.