Kanti

As you may know from reading our blog, we made a wonderful friend on our first day in Nepal, her name was Baba. She had a friend, Rupa who is a doctor at the Kanti Childrens’ Cancer Hospital in Kathmandu.

At that time we had toys to distribute, however we didn’t have enough to take to the hospital, so the boys and I had made the very difficult decision to take them to the COTS Orphanage instead, where we did some volunteer work.

Thanks to the generosity of the staff from the Gold Coast City Council, my husband, Steve arrived in Kathmandu with more than enough toys for the sick children at the hospital.

The hospital is a government hospital and the children have come from poor villages outside the Kathmandu Valley and all have cancer. They are far from home, away from family and friends and are very sad and sick. Except for today, Baba, Steve, Cody, Taiga and I, took juice, jelly, cookies, sweets and beautiful toys to give to the children. Today most of these children managed a smile.

Rupa explained to us that the cost of saving a child from a childhood cancer here is $1000. Can you believe it; $1000 can save the life of a child! Due to Nepal being a developing country it is exempt from a lot of medical taxes and given subsidies. According to Rupa, 80% of childhood cancers are curable with the correct treatment.

Since arriving in Nepal, the boys and I have been exposed to so many sad stories, that I thought we had become a little immune to the hardships some children face. However, today after we did the rounds of the children’s wards and went back to Rupa’s office, I wept. I wept for the sick children, for their concerned families and in thanks for the health of my own children.

This was one of the most touching days I have had in Nepal. Thank you so much to everyone that donated their toys to these sick children. Your beautiful gifts have given these children something to cuddle and to find some comfort with tonight.

x Lisa (blessed Mum)

Steve giving out some toys

Thank you

Cody giving out some cookies

Close your eyes, it is lucky dip

Giving

Choosing a toy

Giving out toys

Steve the entertainer

Cody, Steve, Rupa, Baba, Lisa and Taiga

Steve and a new friend

I made it!

Well, I've made it here to Kathmandu and I am so happy to be reunited with my family.  A bit concerned that they didn't recognise me at the airport (well, it was dark, and I arrived without hair on my head and sporting some new spectacles so I guess I can forgive them).  They had made me some welcome signs which really made me feel good.
Cody and Taiga really appear to be at home, taking me around the streets of Kathmandu.  Being the newby, to me it just looks like absolute chaos with people, cars and bikes sharing (like sardines share a can) the street.  Cars and motorcyles going the wrong way down one way streets, lots of tooting and yet the pedestrians (who appear to be taking their lives in their hands just being on the street) all seem so nonchalant.  Amazingly, Lisa says she hasn't seen anyone hit by a car or motorcyle.  Cody and Taiga duck and weave in and out of cars and people, the local shopkeepers know them and say hi, and now Dad is in tow struggling to keep up with them.
Today was my birthday and I was treated to cake at brunch at Cody and Taiga's favourite bakery.  I requested that we go for lunch at the same place Lisa took me yesterday, actually a Tibetan themed restaurant, with real atmosphere and lovely local food.
As Lisa will post, today we went to the only Children's Oncology hospital in Kathmandu.  Quite a humbling experience seeing the poor conditions in which these doctors have to try to cure the sick children.  The soft toys donated by some of the staff at my workplace, The Gold Coast City Council, filled more than half my luggage travelling over here, and today they were so gratefully received by the little kids at the Oncology hospital.  It really felt like we were doing something good, on my birthday.  Seeing the sparkle in their tired eyes was uplifting.  Lisa has made a great friend in Baba, and I am so proud to see my wife trying to make a positive contribution to the people of Nepal.  Lisa is a brave, committed person with a huge heart, and this experience seems to have only driven her to want to do bigger and better things.
We are off on our Everest Base Camp trek tomorrow and are all packed and ready to go.  We have worked through the itinerary with Kul, our travel agent and we have now met our guide Dawa.  We will also have two porters to carry most of our gear so we are very lucky.  Many of the people we have met are surprised that Cody and Taiga are planning to go all the way to base camp, as it is uncommon for children of their age to attempt it.  We shall see.  We are heading off with the best of intentions, whilst being cautious about our health.  We plan to follow the recommended protocols in respect of hydration, acclimatisation and diet.  We now have all the right gear (some last minute shopping today) and are all keen to get on the plane in the morning.
Steve (happy Dad)

Reunited

Dad looked different

Dad finally got here on Tuesday night. We didn’t recognise him. He had shaved his head and had new glasses. 

From Taiga

Mum had to explain to the locals what Daddy Cool meant

Dad has arrived!

Dad arrived on Tuesday night. The plane was four and a half hours late. We made signs, so Dad would see us.

From Cody

Waiting for Dad at Kathmandu airport

Making a change

Today is a great day. Not often in life do you feel you’ve made a significant change in someone’s life. Today I know we have made a huge difference in the lives of 14 children.

When we left the Children off the Street Orphanage (COTS), it was amidst a cholera epidemic. Something I have purposely left off the post until now.

Cholera is spread through contaminated water and can result in death.

The boys and I have been very worried about the children at the orphanage as the water there was not filtered, and there have been a number of deaths recorded in the area.

I am thrilled to say we have secured a water filter from Sally, Mary and Dinesh of the Ten Friends NGO for the children at COTS.

x Lisa (thrilled Mum)