Santvana’s Symphony of Strength

When Santvana was nearly 7 years old, a devastating gas explosion claimed the lives of her parents and younger brother, leaving her as the sole survivor in her family.

She sustained severe burns covering 60% of her body and suffered smoke inhalation injuries. Her left wrist was contracted by the burns, preventing her from properly using her left hand. After her initial recovery, Santvana was eventually placed in an orphanage in India.

In 2017, hope arrived in the form of Jasmin, a single mother from the United States. Drawn to Santvana’s photo and story, Jasmin felt an instant connection, describing Santvana as her “long-lost daughter.” Even though Jasmin came from a Jewish background, she was interested in Indian culture, studying Hindu scriptures and the Sanskrit language. Jasmin knew in her heart that she could give Santvana the loving home and specialized care she needed. So, Jasmin officially adopted Santvana in March 2017 and brought her home to the U.S.

The transition was not easy. Santvana was suddenly immersed in two new languages, English and Hebrew, and enrolled in school for the first time in the U.S. She initially required an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to help her catch up academically. But with determination and hard work, Santvana not only met expectations, she exceeded them. She eventually moved on from her IEP into a standard curriculum and is now preparing for college, with Texas A&M high on her list of choices. She comfortably switches between three languages: English, Hebrew and Hindi. Soon you can add Japanese to that list, which she now studies in school. In a heartfelt gesture, Jasmin changed her own last name to Santvana’s original family name, honoring Santvana’s biological family and the bond they share.