KOCHI: Edna does not own a house, she lives in the tea shop along with her father, mother and two siblings. She works in the shop at day time and study online for entrances at night. She got MBBS admission in merit seat.

Edna will join classes at Alappuzha Medical College on March 21. She fights against difficulties and works hard to achieve her dreams.Edna is the eldest daughter of Johnson-Bindu couple's three children.

Johson, her father was a van driver. In 2019, he suffered a spinal cord injury and was bedridden. He went into debt and sold the car. The situation was such that the children's education would be disrupted. Bindu, who was driving an auto, was burdened by her husband's treatment and the children's education. When his condition improved, Johnson started a tea shop in the cart. Then later they stayed in the teashop itself.

Edna's older brother Samuel is studying hotel management and younger brother Joel is studying in ninth standard.

Edna and her family were worried that the admission would cause financial problems. A local WhatsApp community called 'Nalla Nasrathukkaran' and its members helped her, also Kakkanad Swanthanam Trust took over the entire cost including hostel fees. Edna was adamant that she did not need help alone. She also distributed the money to two other poor families whose children also got MBBS admission with her.

I thank everyone who supported me. I want to pursue an MD in Orthopedics as the field is connected to my father's disease, said Edna.