Suraj is a teen from the surroundings of Butwal in western Nepal. His father, mother and five sisters still live there; two brothers died because of health problems at early age. When Suraj was a baby, both his parents had to go to the fields to work and his sisters already went to school. He was left alone at home and one day, attracted by the sparkling flames, he crawled into the fire.
Suraj severely burned his both hands and a spot in his face: he lost all fingers of one hand and two of the other. A mobile team of HRDC - a Nepalese children’s hospital - found him years later and offered his family to treat him. Through a contact person in the hospital we heard about his case and offered him a spot in our center, so he could go to school during his medical treatment.
After three corrective operations - using skin of his belly and arm - and endless sessions of physiotherapy, Suraj can now use his hands quite good. He enjoys going to school a lot and is a cheerful and confident boy, always chatting and dancing. He has regular contact with his parents and sisters, who are very impressed with the independent person he is becoming. When Suraj finishes high school, he will be ready to go back to his home town and take care of himself and mean something to his family.
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