Medical care & rehabilitation changing lives Nepal

Namaste, and welcome to our October project report.

The number of patients MeRO can treat at one time depends not only on financial considerations, but patient acuity.

Since our last project report all MeRO’s patients with acute burns injuries were discharged, having beaten the Nepali odds of surviving burns to more than 30% of their bodies. They, along with the three patients who required release of their burns contractures, were quickly replaced with patients with equally expensive orthopaedic injuries instead!  

16-year-old Susan was operated on for a non-malignant tumour and required a knee replacement. She and her mum were so happy as initially doctors thought she had osteosarcoma (bone cancer).  

53-year-old Jauli has endured an eleven year history of pain because the family were unable to afford medical care. They incurred a huge debt ($2000) to pay for what she was told was uterine cancer. Suspected uterine cancer turned out to be bone cancer instead, and she was eventually diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Doctors recommended surgery at an estimated cost of over $5000. Her husband again borrowed money from villagers, friends, and family and surgery went ahead. Although she was assured that the metal hardware inserted into her leg would last for many years, she still needed crutches to walk and was in constant pain.

Over the next few years, Jauli and her husband worked hard and managed to repay half of what they borrowed, whilst taking care of their seven children. Nine months ago her implant fractured and she was advised to undergo further surgery at a cost of $5000.  Jauli remained in hospital hoping for compassion and some financial support, but there was none forthcoming. Desperate, they reached out for help and their story was told in the media. They were then connected with MeRO.

Jauli had surgery in July and was transferred back to the Shelter a few weeks later, where she is still receiving ongoing nursing care and intensive physiotherapy and is hopefully dreaming of getting rid of those crutches!

Fortunately, MeRO’s other patients have been relatively more straightforward. Their diagnoses included cataracts, kidney stones, spinal surgery, and several patients required cardiac surgery. Almost all have been discharged which has helped free up bed space. October brings the beginning o the festival season in Nepal and everyone wants to return home during this period. Medical staff take holidays and consequently the Shelter is usually relatively quiet. However, due to the catastrophic recent floods and landslides in Nepal, MeRO is anticipating a possible onslaught of patients which would mean that things at the Shelter will not be as quiet at all!

As always, your support will continue to help change the lives of people in Nepal with injury or illness, who cannot access medical care due to poverty, and as always, your wonderful support is so much appreciated by all.

With best wishes and grateful thanks,

Virginia Dixon

President, Roads to Rehab Nepal