Lalitha

Lalitha was just 13 years old when she arrived at the Project Rescue home, but in many ways, she was frozen in time.

Years of severe abuse had not only left deep emotional scars but had also stunted her brain’s growth and development. She could barely speak; her eyes held only fear, and the trauma she had endured had taken away her ability to grow and thrive like other children.

When the staff at the safe home took her to the doctor, his assessment was grim. Her brain, he explained, had stopped developing at the age when the abuse began.

The damage was extensive, and he had little hope for improvement. He listed out the challenges she would face for the rest of her life, a future defined by limitations.

But God had a different story for Lalitha.

Day by day, through the patient love and care of those at the girls' home, she began to change. At first, it was just a flicker—a hesitant glance, a moment of eye contact. Then came the smallest of smiles, the whisper of a word.

The staff never wavered in their belief that healing was possible, surrounding her with the kind of love that reaches even the most wounded hearts.

Months later, they brought her back to the same doctor. As he looked over his original diagnosis, he began crossing off condition after condition, shaking his head in disbelief. He had never seen such a dramatic transformation in such a short time.

What had seemed impossible was now unfolding before his eyes.

In 2024, a Project Rescue friend had the privilege of meeting Lalitha. She still didn’t speak in full sentences, but when he reached out his hand, she smiled and gave him a high-five. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes. Love was healing her. Hope was renewing her. And God was rewriting her story—one step, one smile, one word at a time.