Young people like Jitesh need life-changing surgery and rehabilitation their families could never afford alone.
“You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.” – Psalm 10:17
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Sixteen-year-old Jitesh loves science, cricket, and learning.
But he was born with severe clubfoot affecting both feet. He has spent his childhood struggling to walk, relying on his brothers to help him get to school, move around, and even go to the toilet.
He has also endured cruel comments because of his disability.
“I feel sad when they make fun of me,” Jitesh says.
His father, Manoj, desperately wanted a different life for his son. But as a farmer and daily labourer who does not own land, specialised treatment was simply beyond his means.
For 16 years, poverty kept the treatment Jitesh needed out of reach.
A community outreach camp finally connected Jitesh with specialised care at the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children – HRDC.
His left foot has now been operated on, with a specialised Ilizarov frame fitted to gradually correct its position. Once his left foot is corrected, treatment can begin on his right.
The process will take months, and Jitesh worries about missing school and falling behind in his exams.
Yet, underneath that worry is something stronger.
Hope.
“I’ll be able to walk and I’ll be very happy,” he says.
He dreams of helping more at home, playing cricket, returning to his studies, and building a future with greater independence.
“I will study and will go on to become an engineer. I want to do good work being an engineer.”
Across Nepal, other young people are living with treatable disabilities because their families cannot afford or access the care they need.
For young people like Jitesh, this is about much more than correcting a physical condition.
It can mean going to school, joining friends, becoming more independent, and having the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
For years, Manoj thought nothing could be done for his son.
But he kept praying.
“We prayed at home for my child’s feet to get well,” he says.
Now that Jitesh is receiving treatment, Manoj wants other families to know that help may be possible too.
One young person reached. One family given hope. And now, that hope can reach others.
Jitesh still has months of treatment ahead. But now he can look towards the future with hope.
Towards walking more freely. Towards playing cricket. Towards returning to his education. And towards pursuing his dream of becoming an engineer.
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