Anoopa Sharma

Anoopa's case goes to court

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2008-01-28T08:46:00-05:00

Anoopa's mom shared this note regarding Anoopa's case going to court beginning today in Ashland, Alabama.

Dear Friends and Family,

Please keep Anoopa and our family in your prayers. Dennis and I will be in Clay County courthouse in Ashland, Alabama during the week of Monday 28 January for the court proceedings. My sister and brother-in-law will be with us for support. It has taken almost three years to bring this case to court. That says something about the situation of legal affairs in Clay County.

Our attorneys tell us it is unlikely that the district attorney (DA) of Clay County will ever bring a criminal case against the defendant, Mr. Darren Smith, whose reckless driving caused the loss of our beloved Anoopa. That says a lot more about law enforcement practices in Clay County, Alabama.

We wanted to hold Mr. Smith responsible for his actions on highway 77 on the evening of 5 March 2005, and have him face the consequences of his high speed reckless driving. We do not expect much from this case; however we would like to see him do 200-400 hours of social service and donate part of his wages to Anoopa Sharma Children's Foundation. Social service at hospitals attending automobile accident victims will help him learn to respect laws of the road. It is our wish that neither he nor anyone else take another innocent life by driving recklessly, at excessively high speed, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We also wish to see Anoopa's dream of helping under represented young women around the world better their lives.

Your prayers and acts of kindness have been so important to us in the past, and we continue to be grateful for your concern and support. Please think of Anoopa and us and pray the lord to give us strength to face this difficult time.

With best wishes to all,

Anita

Anoopa's computer and lecture rooms in use!

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2007-12-31T16:15:00-05:00

I'm so happy to share this update from Anoopa's dad Dennis Sharma and the on site manager for Anoopa's project, Mr. Arora.

From Dennis:

After over two years of hard work on the project, it's
so gratifying to see the results -- girls sitting in
front of computers and exploring ....... For those of
us who saw the school before the project started, we
feel a sense of real accomplishment. We are very lucky
to have found a good project manager in Mr. Arora. I
feel that Anoopa who double-majored in computer
science and biolgy would be very satisfied with this
progress. But more is needed. I will continue to help
the school in any way I can.

Thank you for your moral and financial support for
Project Anoopa.

And now the photos from Mr. Arora....

Photos of Project Anoopa rooms

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2007-12-31T16:09:00-05:00

Browse Album...

Anoopa's card to her dad

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2007-03-12T22:38:00-05:00

Dennis also found an old birthday card from Anoopa from 1999 when he was working in Honduras.

The card itself said on the outside, “We’ve both really grown over the years. You’ve grown wiser, more understanding, and tolerant.” And on the inside: “…and I’ve grown really proud to have you for my dad. Happy Birthday.”

Anoopa wrote:

Dear Daddy,

I have enclosed some pictures that were taken this summer. There is one of us and Gloria and Estefana at La Creperia, me and Uttama at Roatán, the view of the San Francisco Bay, including Alcatraz, a few of the Grand Canyon, one next to some Redwood trees, and then a few of Yosemite. The first one shows Half Dome, a famous site in Yosemite which I hiked to the top of with some friends from the camp.

Happy Birthday! I hope you are enjoying your time in and are having no regrets about taking the assignment. I’m looking forward to seeing you in October, but until then I’ll write you emails frequently and let you know how things are going. My work with OIT is going well and I’m learning a lot. I love you and want to wish you a very happy birthday.

Love, Anoopa XOXO

Anoopa's letter to her dad

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2007-03-12T22:00:00-05:00

Anoopa's dad recently found a letter from Anoopa in a box of old papers. He wanted to share the letter, which she wrote to him just prior to her graduation from Duke in 2002. From Dennis:

The letter makes a very important point about Anoopa's very warm, kind and loving personality. Although she and I corresponded frequently by e-mails and talked on phone, she took the time and wrote to me about her true feelings. I enjoyed reading the card and the letter often even when she was present among us. Now that she is no more, these have become invaluable treasures.

Hope you all are o.k. and praying for her peace and
happiness... wherever she might be.

To view a larger version of the letter, click on the small image, then click on the full letter, and then zoom in on the full-size image.

Browse Album...

Anoopa's paper on her work in Bangledesh published

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2007-03-12T21:50:00-05:00

I just realized a post I tried to make in December never went live. Apologies for the late news, but here it is!

In May a paper Anoopa wrote on her work in Bangladesh was published. You can find it on the Bio Info Bank Library, and here's the abstract:

Trop Med Int Health. 2006 May;11:757-64

The economic impact of visceral leishmaniasis on households in Bangladesh

Authors: D Anoopa Sharma, Caryn Bern, Beena Varghese, Rajib Chowdhury, Rashidul Haque, Mustakim Ali, Josef Amann, Indu B Ahluwalia, Yukiko Wagatsuma, Robert F Breiman, James H Maguire, Deborah A McFarland

Summary Objectives To explore current patterns of diagnosis and treatment, quantify household economic impact and identify household strategies to cover the costs of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) care in rural Bangladesh. Method Structured interviews with 113 VL patients from 87 households documenting all provider visits and expenditures for health care for VL, and the ways in which the expenditures were covered. Results Patients paid a median of 7 visits to six different providers before beginning VL treatment. All visited the subdistrict government hospital at least once. While health care, including antileishmanial drug therapy, is officially available free of charge at government facilities, 79% of patients reported making informal payments for provider access, diagnostics and drug administration; only 14% of patients received their full drug course from this source. For the 58% of patients who purchased the full treatment course, drug cost constituted 34% of direct expenditure. Median direct expenditure for one VL patient was US$87 and median income lost was $40; median total expenditure was 1.2 times annual per capita income of our study population. Households employed multiple coping strategies to cover expenditures, most commonly sale or rental of assets (62%) and taking out loans (64%). Conclusions Visceral leishmaniasis treatment causes a major economic burden in affected families. Control strategies for VL should facilitate timely, affordable diagnosis and treatment of patients to decrease the infection reservoir and to alleviate the economic burden of VL on households.

Congrats, Anoopa!

More photos from Atrauli

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2007-03-01T08:08:00-05:00

Here are some more images from the Sharmas' trip to Atrauli and inauguration of Anoopa Hall.

Browse Album...

Inauguration

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2007-02-20T21:29:00-05:00

For You I Never Met.

I read a story about a girl intent on saving the world But she only got a few years to visit, to hold children, to desire Justice and to muse while walking dusty village roads of her fathers people wondering if she could live the life She saw. I stared at photos of a girl brilliant and shining as the sun breaking barriers with her smile and spirit and restless hands bigger than the Taj Mahal. And now she makes me restless with my days and my faith and my understanding of things, but encouraged, inspired, moved to follow. I read a story about a girl I wish I had known. Jan. 13th 2007/Annonymous

The Atrauli School for Girls' new Anoopa Hall--a beautiful new space inspired, planned, funded, and built thanks to Project Anoopa--was inaugurated in December 2006. Anoopa Hall is huge and will be used in three ways: as a computer lab, a library, and an all-pupose meeting room. Project Anoopa also gave the school a new four faucet sink area for drinking water replacing an old handpump.

Anoopa's parents Dennis and Anita and her sister Uttama attended the dedication ceremony. 790 young female students and staff from the school also participated in the events. Dennis's sister performed the pooja and havan in front of the fire, and Uttama performed the tape cutting and unvieled a marble plaque hung in the Hall that reads, "In Memory of Anoopa Sharma, 7/9/1980-14/3/2005."

Most important, we want to thank all of you who helped us in this endeavor via prayers, well wishes, suggestions, time, efforts and generous donations.

The next phase of the project involves installing collapsible walls to divide the space as well as building the library's collection and equipping the computer room with computers and furniture.

Please keep memories of your dear friend Anoopa in your heart and help us keep this project on track. Your suggestions and support are always welcome.

--Anita Sharma

Browse Album...

Project Anoopa--Upcoming Inauguration!

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-12-03T12:30:00-05:00

Uttama, Dennis, and Anita are traveling together to India this month to inaugurate the new facility at the Autrali School for Girls! Congratulations to all who helped make this project happen, from financial contributions to research and vision to construction and management!

There is still lots of opportunity for individuals or organizations to support the Anoopa Sharma Foundation's development project.

The first phase of Project Anoopa involved construction of a multi-purpose facility, providing the Autrali School for Girls new space for a library, computer room, and community meeting hall. The cost of this phase was about $34,000. As of about August, the total of all donations in the Anoopa Foundation account reached a bit less than $10,000. Work on the project is continuing strong thanks to the Sharma family's personal funds. Additional contributions are very welcome to help lower the family's costs.

Contributions go the furthest when made via check, sent directly to the bank or the Sharma's home. See details under Memorial Fund. Donations can also be made online via Paypal--there's just a percentage taken out of the contribution for the convinience of the Paypal transaction.

Best wishes to the Sharma's in their travels in India this month! We're looking forward to a report on your visit and the school.

Project Anoopa October Update

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-12-03T12:20:00-05:00

By mid-October the construction team had moved inside to work on the electric and plaster work. You can really get a feel for what the final space will be--take a look at a couple photos.

Browse Album...

Project Anoopa September Update

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-12-03T11:40:00-05:00

By mid-September the construction team in Autrali was finishing the roof. Completing the roof is a major accomplishment in the Indian style of construction. Take a look at several photos.

Browse Album...

Anoopa wins poetry contest

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-08-15T07:43:00-05:00

Anoopa's poem, Living Bangladesh has been awarded third prize in the Ethnographic Poetry competition of the Society for Humanistic Anthropology. It is being published in the journal, Anthropology and Humanism, Vol 31, No. 2 (December 2006).

There will be an award ceremony at the American Anthropological Association meetings, in San Jose, CA, sometime between Nov 15 and 19 (exact timing TBA).

Thanks to Jed Stevenson for submitting Anoopa's poem to the competition, and congratulations to Anoopa!

Video links fixed

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-08-13T16:10:00-05:00

We've fixed the video links. If you haven't seen these yet here's your chance.

Original:

Atlanta Fox 5, March 18, 2005

Follow-up story:

Atlanta Fox 5, May 5, 2005

Project Anoopa Progress - early July

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-07-03T16:48:00-05:00

More progress from Atrauli.

Your donations are still needed. Thank you for your support!

Browse Album...

Project Anoopa Progress - early June

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-06-30T16:19:00-05:00

The library, meeting hall, and new classroom construction in Atrauli are progressing!

Browse Album...

Memory Tree Details

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-03-07T14:03:00-05:00

Here are some new details on Thursday's memory-tree planting at Emory!

The service, led by the Emory Chaplain, will last about 20 to 30 minutes:

Greeting
Friends & family are invited to share readings, poems, memories, etc.
Guests are invited to help fill in the hole in which the tree has been partially planted
Closing - led by Chaplain, guests read aloud

There will be signs in the park to direct visitors to the specific location. However, it's just off the main road in the park, so you won't miss it.

And a note from Anoopa's mom, Anita Sharma:

Dear Friends,

If you wish to share something to be read on your behalf at the Tree Planting ceremony on Thursday 9 March, please email me at asharma3@gmu.edu. I will be leaving for Atlanta early Thursday; please email by Wednesday 8:00 PM so I have time to coordinate the readings.

If you are unable to email soon, please be sure to post your memories/prayers for Anoopa here, using the "Messages" link at the top of the page.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

Anita

Memory Tree Planting at Emory

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-03-03T10:00:00-05:00

Next Thursday, March 9, 2006, friends, family, and colleagues of Anoopa will be planting a tree in her memory at Emory! The dogwood tree will overlook the park and the lake in Lullwater Park on the Emory campus, not far from Rollins School of Public Health.

Details from Missy McCall:

Location: Lullwater Park on Clifton Road, Emory University Campus

Time: 12:15pm

Parking: The closest parking deck is the Michael Street parking deck located behind the Rollins School of Public Health. Directions are located at this link: http://www.sph.emory.edu/directions_maps.php. Following the directions to RSPH located at this link -- when you turn on Rollins Way, take your 2nd right in to the visitor's entrance of the parking deck.

Directions to the park: Cars are not allowed in the park, access is only by foot (or bike). After you park, go through the RSPH building to get to Clifton Road. You will enter the building on the P-level - go up one level to the 1st floor and that will allow you to exit on Clifton Road. Take a right on Clifton Road. Cross Clifton at the 1st light and continue following Clifton to the right. You will see the entrance to the park on your left (there is a stone gate at the entrance). Follow the signs to the tree planting location, it is just off the main park road on the left. It's a nice spot - perched on a small hill that overlooks the lake in Lullwater Park in the distance. I would give yourself 15-20 minutes to get to the location from the parking deck.

Anyone needing better directions or with questions can contact Missy at missy.mccall@emory.edu or 404-727-8729.

Anoopa Sharma Children's Foundation Progress and Request for Support

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2006-01-09T08:40:00-05:00

During the recent holidays Dennis and members of his
family visited the girls’ School (Amar Chand Kanya
Inter College) in Atrauli, India and met with the
School Manager, the Principal and the Director of a
Non-Profit Organization (Samaj Seva Samiti, through
which funds will be transferred to the school) to
visit the project site and discuss the next steps in
start-up of the project of refurbishing the school
with much needed facilities.

The School Manager has submitted a proposal for the
construction and establishing a library, a computer
room and a lecture room – all located contiguously
with partitions that can be opened to make a big hall
to accommodate larger groups for school functions. The
cost of the proposal is Rs. 19.4 lakhs (US$43,000) of
which school will contribute Rs. 3.69 lakhs ($8,200),
and thus requesting $34,800 from Anoopa Sharma
Memorial Funds. The School Manager informed us that
the construction can begin in March and will be
completed by October 2006. He plans to send me a
construction and payments schedule. Once I get this I
will be sending all of the proceeds from the Anoopa
Sharma Memorial Fund (Approx. $10,000) as the first
payment to begin the first phase of the construction,
i.e., procurement of all of the construction
materials.

During the meeting, Dennis raised the issue of
competitive and transparent procurements to reduce
costs and potential audit of the expenditures. The
School Manager gave his word that he will do his best
to keep all of the records so any contributor can come
and check the records.

Based on the above cost estimates, an additional sum
of $24,800 are needed ASAP to commit to the project.
Sharma Family will contribute $10,000 for the project.
The balance of $14,800 must be raised through the
website or other campaigns. We request everyone’s
assistance and cooperation to succeed in this project.

On a parallel track Sharmas have filed papers with the
IRS to establish a not-for-profit organization –
Anoopa Sharma Children Foundation. We will post it on
the net as soon as we get the IRS approval so people
can make tax deductible contribution to the
organization. Thank you.

Best wishes in the New Year!

Updates: Memorial Fund and Memorial Reward

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2005-10-13T13:15:00-05:00

Memorial Reward

In memory of Anoopa on her 25th birthday, September 7, 2005, the Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, established the Anoopa Sharma Award for Research in Epidemiology. The award recognizes a graduate student who is pursuing public health research in the under-served populations of the world.

This year’s recipient of the Anoopa Sharma Award for Research in Epidemiology is Erin Murray, a Ph.D. student at Emory. Erin and Anoopa worked together researching in Bangledesh, and they grew a friendship that continued back at Emory. Erin posted a wonderful message to Anoopa here on her site in March:

You are a fantastic friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever known. I will cherish the time we had together, particularly our time in Bangladesh. You made my experience better than I could have imagined, and it would not have been the same without you. Your spirit and enthusiam got me out of the guest house and onto the streets of Dhaka, a scary adventure for someone who had never been outside of North America before! By the time you were finished helping me get my international traveling feet beneath me, I was able to wander the streets of Kathmandu and travel in India by myself, and I thank you for that. I also thank you for getting me to Nepal and India, and for making me a part of your family in Delhi for a few days before we parted ways.

A piece of Anoopa will carry on through the work Erin continues to pursue! Best wishes to Erin.

Anoopa Sharma Memorial Fund

Work continues on Anoopa's pet project to improve the facilities at the girls school in Atrauli, India. Your contributions continue to build funds for the project - THANK YOU! Plans are being developed for construction of a school auditorium/community center and library. Anoopa's father Dennis Sharma and his brother are in discussions with the school’s management regarding their needs, a potential cost-sharing plan, project management and start-up. It is hoped that these discussions will be concluded over the next few months so the construction can begin early next year.

Thanks from the Sharma Family

The following is a letter sent earlier this month by Anoopa's mother Anita Sharma to Missy McCall of Emory:

Dear Ms. McCall,
I am very thankful for the Anoopa Sharma Award plaque, agenda, photos and videotape you sent us. FedEx re-routed the package from Santa Rosa, California to Virginia. We are glad that it wasn't lost, and is finally here, with us.
It is very kind and thoughtful of Dr. Mandel to have a plaque made for us as well. Seeing Anoopa's picture engraved in brass was touching. I am pleased to have this plaque as a constant reminder of how deep an impact Anoopa made on students, staff and faculty of the Emory School of Public Health. We hope that Anoopa's dream of serving the health needs
of poor around the world will inspire the Emory students for years to come.
Please keep us informed about the tree planting, as and when it takes place.

Sincerely,
Anita Sharma

Atlanta Fox 5 News follow-up about Anoopa

dylan.and.amy@dylangreene.com (Amy and Dylan) — 2005-05-18T19:00:00-05:00

Atlanta Fox 5 News recently had a follow-up coverage on Anoopa. It's just under six minutes long and is very nicely done.

Thanks again go to John Brunet and Jack Houman at the Rollins School of Public Health for their help with capturing and editing the video.

VIDEO: AnoopaNewsPart2.wmv (5 megs)