Theertha triumphs over illness, achieves rank

KOLLAM: After spending nearly six months in the hospital with faded memories and surviving a near-death experience, Theertha has now achieved the first rank in her university examinations. A student of S.N. College in Kollam, Theertha earned this proud accomplishment in a dual major undergraduate program — B.A. English and Malayalam (Language and Literature).

It was during her 10th-grade studies that she was diagnosed with a rare condition causing blood clots in the brain. At one point, a blood vessel burst, leading to a stroke. She battled death in the ICU. During her six-month hospital stay, many of her memories faded. But from there, she made a determined comeback to life.

Theertha P. Sujeesh (21) is the daughter of B.P. Poornima, a clerk at the Kottayam Collectorate, and hails from Kalluvathukkal, Chathannoor. The illness began as a headache while she was studying in Class 10 at S.N. Public School, Kollam. By the time she was discharged from the hospital, just a month and a half remained before her board exams. Though school authorities advised her not to register for the exam, Theertha was determined to study. She worked hard to recover her memory, restarted her studies from scratch, and went on to score 86%. Later, she pursued her Plus Two at Lake Ford School in Kavanad, where she again achieved outstanding results.

Goal: Civil Services
Even until a year ago, she had to rely on medication, but now she is completely cured. Though she secured admission for an MBA, she has chosen to pursue a postgraduate degree in English via distance education. Her ultimate goal is the Civil Services.

Theertha studies in a unique style. She arranges pillows in her room, imagining them as children, and teaches them aloud — reading and speaking clearly — to learn the material herself. Her younger brother, Nived P. Sujeesh, sometimes replaces the pillows and sits in her "tuition class."