Case histories.

These case studies have been taken from the Hope Disability Centre October Newsletter which we have had just completed.

Sumitra
The Hope Disability Centre (HDC) receives an endless stream of very complex and complicated cases. Finding the best solution can be challenging and each solution is unique depending on the needs of the individual.
Many children live with their families in remote and inaccessible locations of rural Nepal. Sumitra is one such child from a remote location of Nepal whom HDC has assisted in
many ways to regain mobility and independence.
Sumitra is a 16 year old girl from Gulmi District in Western Nepal. She has one brother and
3 sisters. Her parents are subsistence farmers and do not own a house of their own. Sumitra's family is very poor and no one in the family has received any education. When Sumitra was four months old she fell into an open kitchen fire in her house and both of her legs were severely burnt. Sumitra's parents did not know where to take her for treatment. Not long after Sumitra suffered her burns her mother, due to associated stress, was unable to look after her child. Also Sumitra's father died, leaving Sumitra in the care of her sister in law. Sumitra's sister in law did not know how to look after her and there were problems in caring for Sumitra.
In 2009 an Eye Hospital camp visited Sumitra's village. Sumitra went to the camp for an eye check up and was referred to HDC by the Eye Doctor after he saw the extent of her disability. At this point in time HDC Tamghas consisted of 2 small rented rooms in the town. We decided to refer Sumitra to Butwal where there was a visiting medical camp from Model Hospital Katmandu.
Both of Sumitra's legs were operated on at the camp. The damaged part of one leg was amputated. The other leg had a contracture and this was surgically released. After one month Sumitra returned to Butwal for a follow up. After the completion of the operation in Butwal Sumitra stayed for a year at HDC Tamghas. The centre provided lodging, food, exercise, wound dressing and other necessities to rehabilitate Sumitra. Sumitra was also enrolled at a local boarding school.
After Sumitra was fully returned to health she was referred to Green Pastures Hospital in Pokhara for the fitting of prosthesis leg. Sumitra stayed at the Green Pastures Hospital for four months to mould and ensure the prosthesis fitted correctly Sumitra also had training and physio so she could walk. Sumitra has prosthesis for one leg and after the contracture of the other leg had been released and a shoe fitted she is able to walk.
Sumitra has now returned to her village where she lives with her brother. She is attending
school and can now walk around the village where she is now accepted. HDC hope that
Sumitra will eventually work in the field of fabric painting so that this will generate income for her.
The total cost for the operation and rehabilitation for Sumitra amounted to 104,000 rupees; around $1,420 US dollars. This is small price to allow Sumitra a life of walking.

Fully recovered, Thank you ALTSO.

Sunita
Sunita is a 6 year old girl from Dubichour Village Development Committee (V.D.C.) Gulmi District. She has eight people in her household. Sunita's family is very poor and are not educated. Sunita came to HDC last year she have osteomyelitis, which is inflammation of the bone and bone marrow and we referred her to HRDC hospital in Katmandu. She was admitted to the hospital and surgery was conducted and Ilizarovs Technique was applied to lengthen her leg and she spent a month in hospital in Katmandu. Now Sunita is fully recovered and walk completely normally and now is attending school.
Sumita was able to walk after never being able to walk after the small investment of $493 US.

Take
Take is a seventeen a year old boy from Musikot 3 Gulmi. Take has clubfeet from birth. When Take was 4 months old his mother died and Take did not receive adequate care and nutrition. He was not boght in for treatment until he was seventeen years old. Take came to the HDC and he was referred to HRDC Hospital in Katmandu where Take was operated on to correct the right club foot. After one month Take is to return to HRDC Hospital in Katmandu to have the left clubfoot corrected.
The cost of the correction for the right leg has been around $580 US. This amount is needed to coorect Take's left foot.

The examples above show how a small amount of support from donors can make a powerful change to someone's life. The cost of transport, medical attention, dressing and accommodation costs are very low allowing donors funds to achieve a great deal. In most instances the cost of surgery is free thanks to Manipal, HRDC, Model and other hospitals in Nepal.