INF helps Madan

Two years ago Madan, 14, fell six metres from a fruit tree, fracturing his spine and wrist, and leaving him paralysed from the waist down with loss of bladder and bowel control.

His uncle carried him for three hours to get him to Surkhet, as there is no road from his village Taranga. From there he was referred to Kathmandu, where - without an x-ray - his wrist was put in plaster but not set straight. As Madan's family had no money, the hospital staff said they could do no more for him and that Madan would probably die within a few months.

However, a year later another man who had fallen from a tree and fractured his spine returned home to Taranga after treatment at INF's clinic in Surkhet, where he had been trained to live with his condition, use a wheelchair and move about independently.

Inspired by this man's story, Madan's father took his son to INF's Surkhet clinic. INF arranged for corrective surgery on Madan's wrist and taught him how to use a wheelchair. He is now able to do most things with his left hand, including writing. After consultation with Madan and his parents, INF adapted their house in town so Madan could live there with his grandmother. INF widened the door for wheelchair access, built a wheelchair-friendly toilet and worked with local authorities to ensure water supply to the house. INF also helped to build a cooking area at a height that Madan could use and helped to build a ramp at the local school so Madan could get into the classroom.

Despite missing a year of school, Madan is doing really well. His father has helped two other families to build suitable toilets for relatives with spinal cord injury, and encourages them to think positively even in their difficult circumstances. INF has also helped Madan's family to set up a shop to help them with income generation.

If you would like to help Nepali people with disabilities like Madan, please click here.

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