New Freedom for Sandyya

Elder Coffey and I recently returned from a week in Nepal to view some of our humanitarian projects being done there.  We met amazing people.  We would like to share some of their stories with you.

Sandyya Subedi of Pokhara, Nepal, was born completely healthy.  But just two weeks later she developed a fever, then went into convulsions.  The illness left her partially paralyzed and spasmodic.  Doctors today say it was probably meningitis, and it left in its wake damage to the developing brain that affected her ability to control her muscles. She now has cerebral palsy. 

Sandyya Subedi, age 15, being steadied by the wheelchair specialist.

Now 15 years old, Sandyya is a bright and intelligent young woman. She lives with her parents and 12 year old sister. Sandyya tries to go to school as often as possible, by wheelchair. She loves school, and loves being with her friends. When her previous wheelchair became damaged and was no longer usable, the family did not have the money to replace it.  They tried to find one she could borrow from friends. Sometimes she was able to use the borrowed wheelchair and make it to school.  But often the wheelchair was not available, and she missed many classes. 

Sandyya’s parents brought her to the LDS Charities wheelchair distribution in Pokhara, Nepal to get a wheelchair of her very own.  She was an absolute delight - beaming with happiness to have her own chair which will give her greater freedom.  Someone will still have to push the wheelchair for her, but at least now she can go to school regularly.

“With her new chair, she will be able to be with her friends and not miss anymore classes,” her father told me with joy in his eyes.  He proudly told me she knows some English, and she shared the names of some major US cities and a few other English words.

With her new chair, Sandyya will now be able to be with her friends and continue her education without interruption.  The determination in her eyes says it all. Thank you, everyone, for your humanitarian contributions worldwide.  Those contributions have made a huge difference in the life of this young woman.