KIT Blog

Pooja is a 12 year old curious and lively girl, who lives in Nepal with her mother and two sisters aged 11 and 16.

She was diagnosed with leprosy 3 years ago. Pooja’s father abandoned them a year later. Her mother has been travelling to the Middle East for the past ten years to earn money to raise her children.

Pooja completed one year of medication at her local hospital. But despite completing the course, she still developed nerve damage. This resulted in the clawing of both of her hands. She is also unable to walk properly and cannot close her right eye.

But Praise God, Pooja’s aunt brought her to The Leprosy Mission’s Anandaban Hospital. After lab tests and physiotherapist assessments, Pooja was admitted. She began a routine of presurgery physio exercises.

She needs reconstructive surgery. Then extensive physiotherapy for her eye, hands and feet — all of which may need up to a year to complete.

Pooja has been unable to go to school recently and she will miss more school days as she will have to stay at Anandaban for months at a time. This saddens Pooja as she enjoys studying and playing with her friends.

But due to increasing disability caused by nerve damage, she has not been able to play with her friends and sister. She has had to stay indoors for the past few months. She recalls watching television all alone while hearing her friends and a sister happily playing outside. She loves to dance and record videos. But she is not able to dance now because of the disability in her feet due to leprosy.

But thanks to the support of people like you, Pooja is now in safe hands. The Leprosy Mission staff at Anandaban Hospital will do all they can to help heal and restore her. So this precious girl can enjoy life in all its fullness with her family and friends once more.

Please pray that Pooja will recover from her surgery. That her therapy will help her regain mobility in her hands and feet. Pray she WILL dance again! Thank you for supporting people affected by leprosy in Nepal.

To provide ongoing Total Leprosy Care (TLC) to others like Pooja for $30 a month OR to organise a Nepal sponsorship for $45 a month, please call Georgie on 1800 LEPROSY (1800 537 767) or go to: www.leprosymission.org.au/tlc