Story From Dailekh
In the remote hills of Dailekh, a district in the western region of Nepal, a mother’s heart-wrenching journey to save her child began with a simple but terrifying observation. Her 23-month-old son had developed a white reflex in one of his eyes, a sign of something far more serious than a common eye condition. The worried mother immediately knew something was wrong and decided to take her son to Kathmandu for a proper diagnosis. However, the journey itself was not easy. Living in a rural area, it took them two full days of traveling by bus to reach the capital, where they found shelter in a small lodge while hoping for answers.
Once at Tilganga Eye Hospital, the family was greeted by Dr. Purnima Rajkarnikar Sthapit, an expert in ocular oncology, who conducted a thorough examination of the young boy. The diagnosis came as a devastating blow—Retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the eye. Unfortunately, both of his eyes were affected, with the right eye being more severely impacted than the left. This meant the child would need immediate and aggressive treatment to save his vision and his life.
The treatment plan was extensive and urgent. The child was to undergo six months of systemic chemotherapy to combat the cancer, while his better eye would also receive laser treatment (laser TTT) to try to prevent further damage. However, the most difficult decision came with the diagnosis: his right eye, which was beyond saving, needed to be enucleated, meaning the eyeball would have to be surgically removed.
For the mother, the emotional toll of seeing her child face such a serious illness was overwhelming, but the financial burden was just as crushing. Living in a rural area meant the family had limited resources, and staying in Kathmandu for such a prolonged period of treatment was extremely costly. While the family tried to make ends meet, they received some relief as part of their treatment was partially sponsored by a local fund, allowing them to continue the treatment and give their son a fighting chance.
After the right eye was removed, the boy was fitted with a stock shell prosthesis, which, although functional, lacked the comfort and fit of a custom-designed prosthesis. As the mother struggled with the costs of staying in the city for treatment, she knew that a custom prosthesis would be an important step towards restoring her son’s appearance and comfort. That’s when Open Eyes Global, a compassionate organization based in Australia, stepped in. Through their generous sponsorship, the boy received a custom-made prosthesis, perfectly fitting and designed to restore both his appearance and his confidence. The prosthesis would have cost the family Rs 15,000, a price they could not afford, but thanks to Open Eyes Global, the child received it free of charge.
While this was a significant step forward in his recovery, the journey was far from over. The boy still requires ongoing treatment for his better eye, which is at risk of losing sight to the cancer. Every four weeks, he needs laser treatment and intraocular chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from spreading and damaging the remaining eye. Without these treatments, there is a real risk that he could lose vision in both eyes.
For this family, the fight is not yet over. The boy’s survival depends on continued treatment, and his parents are once again faced with the challenge of funding the ongoing care. The cost of these treatments is beyond their means, and they continue to search for financial assistance to ensure that their son’s battle with cancer is won—once and for all.
This story is a testament to the resilience of a mother’s love, the power of community support, and the generosity of organizations like Open Eyes Global. With continued treatment and the right support, this young boy can grow up free from the threat of Retinoblastoma, with the chance to lead a full and healthy life. However, he still needs the financial assistance to continue his treatment and ultimately become cancer-free.
As his mother holds on to the hope of seeing her son grow up healthy and strong, she remains grateful for the support they have received, but the journey ahead requires more help. Every donation and every act of kindness brings this child closer to a future where he can see the world with both eyes.