Sadagopan was totally disillusioned with his life. He was only eight, when the patch on his back was first noticed. It was not long before he was sent away from his school and his education came to a standstill. He found out his fingers would not bend and straighten normally. He found it more and more difficult to hold objects. He was puzzled that he could not feel things when he touched them. There were already bleeding ulcers on his feet without giving him any pain. He had feet without giving him any pain. He had become a leper. The world around him receded from him. His house was his prison now. His friends and relatives avoided him. His, only hope, was his mother. But she died broken, seeing her son lose the baltle against the merciless ravaging disease. Sadagopan, had become an out caste. He could never think of any change in his condition. There was none in this world, who cared for him.

But, someone told him about a doctor in CMC Vellore. He was told, if any on could help him, it was this doctor. It was the year 1951. Sadagopan did not give this much thought. He had only received rejection in his life, after being found a leper. He did not belive that anybody could help him in this world. But somehow, he left for vellore . He reached Vellore with only despair in his heart as the wealth.

The new doctor met him. Sadagopan was shocked, when the doctor put his hand around him and greeted him warmly. The doctor took Sadagopan's hands in his hand and examined it properly. He promised to help Sadagopan. For the first time, In years, Sadagopan slept well that night. He had met a man, who had treated him with respect instead of contempt. The doctor worked on Sadan's hands and feet. After much painful operation and reconstruction, Sadgopan's hands began to enjoy full range of motions. His feet was encased in special shoes, which protected them from ulcers and deformity. The smile returned to Sadagopan's life. He slowly began to move in life with vigour and vilality.

The doctor who restored Sadagopan to fullness of life, was Dr. Paul Wilson Brand. It was God's healing hand that halted the disfiguring advances of leprosy on the human body.

Dr. Paul Wilson Brand, left us for his heavenly home on 8th July 2003 in Seattle , USA . He had a fall backwards and hit his head. He was in a coma for a few days, before he succumbed to death. He was, God's ofter of hope, for millions of leprosy patients, all over the world, particularly in India . The world may never see men of such towering calibre.

God was planning Dr Paul Brand's life mission, much before his birth. God was preparing his destiny, by allowing him to be born in India , a country, with maximum leprosy patients. His parents, Jesse and Evelyn Brands, were a missionary family, toiling for God in Kolli Malai in Tamil Nadu. Their commitment and faith, had made them leave the safety of England , for the per ils of the tropics. Paul wilson Brand was their first child born in July 1914. Kolli Malai, meant mountains of Death. Brand family had chosen Kolli Malai deliberalely out of their concern for the tribal people living in the jungles of the mountain. It was said that a single night, spent on Kolli Malai, was enough to bring death. These mountains were the breeding center for plague, malaria, deadly influenza. The epidemics of illnesses used to wipe off villages these hills. The Brands chose these mountains of Sure death, to lead thousands of tribal people living in spiritual darkness to the glorious light of the Gospel. Jesse and Evelyn had a short course training in tropical medicine before they actually moved in. They courageously treated the worst ailments of their day - bubonic plague, typhoid, malaria, polio, cholera, small pox etc.

Little Paul Brand grew up watching his parents Investing their lives for those poor and forlorn people. He was being prepared in his heart for a great mission in his life. He spent the first nine years of life in Kolli Malai, before he was sent to England for his education. His father wanted Paul to become a doctor. But Jesse never saw his son fulfilling that vision. For he became yet another Victim of the mountains of death. Jesse was only 44 years old, when ravaging black water fever claimed him.

Paul Brand, strove hard to fulfill his fathers vision. His parents faith and commitment had left an indeliblc mark on Paul's spirit. He pursued his medical education in University Medical School London . He met Margaret, a committed christian doctor, who became his wife later. Paul eventually became a Surgeon with FRCS to his Credit. Drs. Paul and Margaret, on invitation, came to vellore .

Dr. Robert Cochrane, a noted leprologist was the principal of CMC, Vellore at that time. He was looking for a dedicated Surgeon, to unravel the mystery of leprosy. The tissue damages in leprosy was baffling Dr Cochrane. Dr. Paul Brand, took upon himself the challenge to probe deep into the disease process of lepnosy. The mutilated and disfigured hands and feet of these poor people, was distressing Dr Paul Brand. Even in these cruelly disfiguring features, Dr Paul Brand was seeing the image of God shine through. The most important medical discovery came through after years of painstaking research. He found out that leprous bacilli did not destroy the hands and feet, but only attracted the nerve tissue. This break through helped Dr Brand to plan his reconstructive surgery well. Dr Paul Brand was an untiring warrior in his fight against leprosy. He operated on thousands of mutilated and disfigured hands. His operating theature was made under home made operating lamp hammered out of a sheet of aluminium. The operations were hours long, with scorching heat of tropical sun, making these hours want.

'Thank God for pain' Brand declared with utmost sincerity. “ I cannot think of a greater gift that I could give my leprosy patient”. Many of us would think that pain is an evil thing. But Dr Paul Brand would never agree to it. Pain is that one gift that keeps our body free from damages. Leprosy bacillus destroys the nerve endings that carry pain signals. People, who do not feel pain, damage themselves.

Our his long career, Dr Brand served on the expert panel for Leprosy of the World Health Organisation. He also served as the president of the Leprosy Mission Information London . He was also named Commander of the order of the British empire by Queen Elizabeth 11 in 1961.

Dr Paul Brand wielded his pen as skillfully as his Surgical scalpel. He found a perfect partner in Philip Yancey the editor of Christianity Today for his writing carrer. Yancey pays glowing tributes to Dr Brand Yancey found in Dr Brand a father figure who mentored his faith. With Yancey as co-author, he has written Fearfully and wonderfully made, In His Image, the Gift of pain. In Dr Brand's passing away, christian world, particularly in India , has lost a true friend and a warrior. May God raise yet another Dr Brand for India.