Ganesh was only 20, with a new wife and his whole life ahead of him, when a disaster changed his future.

Ganesh’s family struggle to make ends meet; both he and his brother worked in India from a young age to earn a better income. While in Nepal, they lived with their parents and Ganesh’s wife in a humble mud and stone house.

Two years ago, a nearby earthquake shook and damaged the house. Shortly afterwards, while his parents were away, heavy rain from the monsoon started to fall. One night, while Ganesh and his brother were sleeping, the house collapsed on top of them.

Ganesh’s brother managed to escape with minor wounds, but Ganesh was trapped. The neighbours heroically worked to free him from the rubble, and rushed him to the nearest hospital. His life hung by a thread.

Ganesh had sustained severe injuries to his C5-C6 spine and needed surgery. The road to recovery was fraught with challenges. Just ten days post-surgery, while already fragile, he contracted dengue fever. He was placed on a ventilator, where he battled for his life for five days.

He spent a month in hospital with his wife by his side and slowly improved, but his prolonged immobility led to a large ulcer which got worse and worse after he was sent home, paralysed. Soon, the deep wound needed more treatment and he went back to the local hospital.

At this point, Ganesh’s family were homeless and living with an uncle. With all of their savings spent and land mortgaged, they started asking friends and family for donations to pay his medical bills. Soon, Ganesh would be out of options.

Free care from INF gave Ganesh a future

By a small miracle, a project team working in the area discovered Ganesh during a visit to the hospital. Seeing his condition and hearing the story, they arranged for him to be transferred to INF’s Shining Hospital in Surkhet for 21 days of ulcer management. At this hospital, a special fund provided by INF supporters allows people like Ganesh to access essential medical treatment for free.

Without cost constraints, Ganesh received the comprehensive care he needed at Shining Hospital, including wound care and physiotherapy. His wife was trained in how to dress his wounds and help him with his exercises. Her dedication played a crucial role in his recovery, inspiring Ganesh to embrace hope and believe in a brighter future.

Gradually, Ganesh regained head control, then hand movements and balance. He learned how to care for himself and received counselling, helping him come to terms with what happened and the huge life change he had experienced.

Now, Ganesh is 22 and still has his whole life ahead of him. His determination, the team’s efforts, and the generosity of INF supporters have given him back his future.