Indian Grandmother selflessly knits over 250 caps for newborn children in US hospital while on vacation #HeroesOfKindness

Unlike the nearly 200 Heroes of Kindness stories that I have collected over the years from across the world, this one is a little different for me - you see, there is no news article about this woman. I came across her deeds thanks to a series of tweets put out by her son and was intrigued by the story. 

Prabha Mishra is an elderly grandmother based in Lucknow. A homemaker while her husband was alive, she found herself looking for ways to keep herself occupied after he passed away in 2008. One of the skills she had put to good use for over 6 decades had been her talent in knitting and it was this skill that caught my eye. This, and her amazing selflessness.

During a visit to the United States to see her daughter, Mrs Prabha chose to go the extra mile and spend her extra time while on vacation knitting caps for new born babies at a nearby hospital at absolutely no cost. She ended up knitting over 200 caps, much to the delight and surprise of both the hospital staff as well as the newborn mothers. 

What makes her act all the more heartwarming is that she did this while suffering from a painful spondylosis condition that severely restricted the use of her hands!

Curious to know more, I got in touch with her son, Sudhanshu Mishra.

Did your mother ever tell you what motivated her to knit her first set of caps?

She has been fond of knitting right from the time she was a child. She has been very creative with it, and during her youth even won some prizes in Air Force Ladies Club (AFFWA) competitions for her knitting. There is nobody in her extended family who has not worn garments knitted by her.

Everyone in this photo, from her children to her grandchildren, and even extended family have over the decades worn caps knitted by this selfless woman

How many caps do you reckon she has made over the years?

I would think she has been knitting for at least 60 years. Caps are not the only item she knits, but she would have knitted more than 500 caps in her life time. 

During her last two visits to the US (my sister lives in Scottsdale, Arizona) she has knitted close to 250 caps for new born babies at this hospital. I would think that she would have knit at least as many if not more caps for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other members of the family.

Some of the hundreds of caps knit by Mrs Prabha Mishra

What your mother did in USA for new born children there is simply amazing. Does this selflessness of hers extend beyond knitting to other aspects of her life too?

She does like to help people but she has been a full time house wife all her life and all her time was spent in caring for the family and doing household chores, like a typical Indian middle class housewife of the 1970's, 80's and 90's. After that she spent most of her time looking after her ailing husband. But after her husband passed away in 2008, she has found herself with a lot of free time since she does not have any dependent family members. She has been using this time to help people in whichever possible. 

With her son, Sudhanshu Mishra

She visits an old age home near her residence from time to time to find out the needs of people there, and helps them with food items, medicines, fruits, clothes, etc. She is not able to knit too much now because of a condition related to age in her nervous system but she still persists with it as much as she can. 

The reason for knitting in the US started as a way to do something in her free time. But gradually she fell in love with the purpose and worked as hard as she could to knit as many caps as she could.

Have you received feedback from the staff at the hospital (HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center)?

My sister keeps in touch with the hospital and told me that they were very grateful and wanted to felicitate her along with a few other volunteers, but they could not schedule it during her visit so my sister participated in the event on her behalf.

Prabha Mishra with her daughter

Most women would yearn to get some time to just relax from household work, especially as the years go by. The thought of using the time while on vacation abroad to help absolute strangers in that country can come only from a heart that is genuinely kind and pure. 

To do all this while suffering from a condition that makes it painful for one's else - that is what makes this remarkable woman, Mrs Prabha Mishra, a true Hero of Kindness.

Author's note:

I have been tracking lovely human beings from across the world for years now and have found children as young as six years old and old women in their eighties who will restore your faith in humanity.

Want more stories of compassion to brighten up your day? 

Hundreds of 'Heroes of Kindness' can be found here:

Heroes of Kindness - 2017 edition
Heroes of Kindness - 2018 edition
Heroes of Kindness - 2019 edition
Heroes of Kindness - Indian edition