"I like living here with my friends -- we tease each other, we chat, laugh, joke..."
This photofilm documents a day in Suvarna's life at the MSF spinal cord rehabilitation clinic at Pompamadhu Hospital, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka. 22-year-old Sri Lankan Suvarna was injured by a shell that exploded five metres from her. She and her family, who had fled their home during the war between the Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tigers, were all wounded by the blast, but Suvarna's injury was to her spine. Here, she tells her story from Pompamadhu Hospital where she is undergoing rehabilitation in MSF's spinal injuries unit.
Photo Gallery
MSF physiotherapist Valeria Maglia conducts a physiotherapy session with patient Suvarna in Pompamadhu Hospital. Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, May 2010. Photo by Pete Masters, MSF.
22-year-old Suvarna transfers from her bed to her wheelchair. She is a patient at Pompamadhu Hospital, where MSF runs a rehab centre for people with spinal injuries. Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, May 2010. Photo by Pete Masters, MSF.
Most of the patients at the MSF rehabilitation programme at Pompamadhu hospital were injured as a result of the war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, May 2010. Photo by Pete Masters, MSF.
Physio assistant Krishna watches as patient Suvarna prepares to walk a few steps at Pompamadhu Hospital, where MSF runs a rehabilitation programme for people with spinal injuries. Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, May 2010. Photo by Pete Masters, MSF.
An MSF physiotherapist helps patient Suvarna to walk with the aid of a walking frame. Unfortunately however, Suvarna will never be without her wheelchair. Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, May 2010. Photo by Pete Masters, MSF.
22 year old patient Suvarna prepares to try and walk a few steps with the aid of a walking frame in Pompamadhu Hospital, where MSF runs a rehabilitation programme for people with spinal injuries. Photo by Pete Masters, MSF.
Suvarna transfers from her wheelchair to her bed. After her spine was damaged ina shell blast, she became a patient at Pompamadhu Hospital, where MSF runs a rehab centre for people with spinal injuries. Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, May 2010. Photo by Pete Masters, MSF.
MSF Italian physiotherapist Valeria Maglia conducts a physio session with 22-year-old patient Suvarna. Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, May 2010. Photo by Pete Masters, MSF.
More on this story
Click here to listen to a podcast on Suvarna's story and the rehabilitation programme at Pompamadhu