| Dead Leg Walks Again |
Dhani Rawat's story – Dang, Nepal At 52 years of age Dhani Rawat, abandoned by her husband due to an accident that severely fractured the tibia and fibula bones of her left leg and left her foot flapping about at the end of her leg, held little hope for the future. After the accident 9 years ago she was taken to the Nepalgunj Hospital (a 7 hour bus ride from Dang) where she received primary level treatment. However as she lacked finances the operation she desperately needed did not happen, so the fractured leg was left untreated. As time passed some healing occurred but she always had bone infection with constant pain, and remained in the same condition for many years. The emotional pain of her abandonment, and her living alone in a small hut in the village made life difficult. Her married daughter sometimes visits her and her neighbours also help her to some extent, but her main support comes from her handicraft work – making ropes, baskets, etc. Hope Revived When Dhani and her neighbour heard about the INF clinic, they came and revealed the condition of her post-fractured leg and requested INF to help with further treatment. After some discussion among the concerned members of the INF Dang Programme, they decided to help with her treatment. She was referred to INF's Green Pasture's Hospital and rehabilitation Centre in Pokhara where she had her affected leg amputated - there was no other option! Hope Becomes RealityAfter the successful operation and physiotherapy she had been given a beautiful prosthesis and is now walking again. From now on she does not have to use her crutches because the “dead leg” has come alive.She is very thankful to the INF without whose help she would have been left far behind with a useless limb and continuous pain, crawling from place to place to eke out an existence to survive. The project that brought relief to Dhani depends of voluntary gifts to aid others. If you would like to help in some way go to our donation's page and choose Leprosy,TB and Youth Projects – Nepal.
Prepared by: Man Singh Gurung
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