Bilquis Bano Edhi, the late Abdul Sattar Edhi’s other half, passed away on the evening of Apr 15 at Karachi’s Aga Khan Hospital. Looking back at her journey, which she dedicated to orphan children and filled the void of a mother in their lives, Bilquis Bano dedicated almost six decades of her life to helping those in need. By placing “jhoolas” at Edhi Homes and centres across the country, her organisation has saved over 42,000 unwanted newborns. Born on Aug 14, 1947, Bano sahiba was a nurse by profession. Edhi met her when he was recruiting medical staff for his organisation. After two years, he asked for her hand in marriage. 19 year-old Bilquis tied the knot with Abdul Sattar sahab with whom she shared an age gap of 20 years. The first time Mr. and Mrs. Edhi saved someone together was at the night of their wedding. It was a 12 year-old girl in need of blood transfusion. Years later, Bilquis recalled that event and said she doesn’t have any regrets, “That girl is married now and has kids. Knowing that she is safe is all that matters.” She was also honored with Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the Lenin Peace Prize, the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service which Bilquis received with her husband in 1986. Bilquis Sahiba’s illness had been announced on Twitter by First Lady Tehmina Durrani where she wrote that even in her frail state, Bano told her how much she misses Edhi sahab.