Deepak, aged five, suffered-life changing burn injuries when he was just six months old. Left to sleep near the warm fire while his parents worked, he woke up and crawled too close, suffering dreadful burns to his legs.

The early years of Deepak’s life have been full of hospital treatment and complex surgeries. He lost the use of both legs, and the family lost all the money they had saved. Neighbours started to gossip about Deepak and stigmatise the family over the child’s disability, which they saw as a curse. His parents were heartbroken.

Without the use of his legs, Deepak grew up crawling. His father remembers the injured knees and countless torn trousers of an active little boy who had to crawl everywhere.

This was Deepak’s life until 2023, when an INF disability screening camp came to his home district of Rolpa, as part of the Community Medical Outreach project made possible by INF UK supporters.

Deepak was then referred to INF’s Green Pastures Hospital in Pokhara, which specialises in the treatment and rehabilitation of people with disabilities. There, for the first time, he learned to walk.

During his 28-day stay at Green Pastures, he bonded well with the staff and was fitted with prostheses for both his legs. One day, a huge milestone occurred in his rehabilitation – he managed to walk a few steps! With the aid of the prosthetic limbs, Deepak gradually transitioned from crawling to walking, running, and engaging in various physical activities. Deepak got his legs back.

He now goes to school, plays with other children, and performs daily tasks with ease. He’s a resilient and happy five year-old. His amazing rehabilitation has silenced the gossip and challenged the neighbours’ views about disability.

Now he’s running, nothing will slow this boy down. Deepak’s new legs have not only given him mobility, but a sense of independence, confidence and dignity as he grows up. He has a place in the community as an equal, alongside everybody else.

His father wanted to thank everyone whose donations made this amazing change possible. He hopes the support will continue so that Deepak can access new prostheses as he grows.