| Sajha.com Archives | |
| Username | Post |
| lv20 | Posted
on 18-Nov-03 07:22 PM
Hi - I'm writing from Kathmandu, hoping that folks there in the US can help a Nepali friend who will be traveling to Baltimore for treatment at Johns Hopkins hospital. His name is Bimal Chuke and he was severely burned in a Maoist petrol bomb attack in Butwal in 1999. He has had upwards of 10 operations already and is still disfigured. He will be coming to the US to get diagnosed at Johns Hopkins. I'm looking for any sort of financial help anyone can give and/or any sort of help that anyone in the Baltimore area can give in terms of helping him live there. His visa is only through April, and we don't know whether or not treatment will be possible, but want to at least try. We'll be arriving together in Boston (traveling through Minnesota) in mid-December and would be happy to meet with groups in the Twin Cities, Boston and/or Baltimore if anyone out there would be interested in organizing get togethers where we might be able to raise funds (even really small individual donations will help him!!). Thanks for anything you can do! Laurie |
| sweetP | Posted
on 18-Nov-03 10:00 PM
Sorry to hear about the burning attack. I would like to hear more about the details of the person (occupation, age etc.). Also how much of donation are you looking for, what is the projected amount of money needed for treatment? May I ask how you are related to the person? If I am not mistaken, Sajha has been able to raise funds before in few instances when fellow nepalis needed help. I am sure that after you send San the information, he might be able to put up something on the website. Right San? Good luck to you and the patient and I wish him all the best for the treatment he needs. |
| ru | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 03:42 AM
I am replying because you've said "even really small individual ..."...send me your address and I will send you a week's pay..which is not much but all I can afford. By the way, I guess the earlier posting about "I am sure that after you send San the information, he might be able to put up something on the website." might prove useful. Try that. P.S. I appreciate your concern in a Nepali (I am assuming that you are not due to your name at the end of your message) |
| ru | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 03:48 AM
and yeh you could send me an email ...rupe766@hotmail.com |
| lv20 | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 04:35 PM
Hi - Thanks for your postings, I appreciate any help at all... Bimal runs a hotel in Butwal with his father, called the Hotel Lallee Gurans. He is 31 and is married with a 10 month old daughter. He hasn't been able to work much in the last four years as he's been having lots of operations and has spent a lot of time in the hospital. I do not know him well, but met him through a Nepali friend who is from Butwal. I am not related to him beyond having met him a couple of times. As a bideshi here in Nepal, I get a lot of requests for help. I am often powerless to help in any way. I also have a personal philosophy whereby I want to help people who are willing to do alot for themselves as well. Bimal has worked hard to get his US visa (which is specifically for medical treatment and apparently very difficult to get) and to raise the money for his plane ticket. We have no idea how much his treatment might end up costing, as this initial appointment is diagnostic. What we've been doing thus far is trying to raise enough money (say around $3000) to pay for his appointment and his stay through possibly April. We'll have to do more hunting around for sponsors, donors, etc. once we understand more about what kind of treatment is possible. I'm hoping to be able to open a bank account for him once we get to Boston, but for the time being am asking that any checks (and really, any amount is helpful!!!!!) be sent to me at my home address. I'm a little bit concerned about posting that here, so if anyone is interested, please email me at lv20@cornell.edu and I'll send a personal message. THANKS!!!! |
| lv20 | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 04:41 PM
How do I contact San? Sorry... I'm new to this bulletin board and web site!!! |
| Dilasha | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 07:13 PM
LV20 ji, seems like a serious case. Maybe this appeal should be put in the front page of Sajha, just like the one advertised for 1974 AD final tour. San dai, is that possible? I guess for that, LV20 ji might want to give Bimal's photograph that would help generate more donations. Just a suggestion. I would be more than happy to help as well. |
| Nepe | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 07:57 PM
I second Dilasha. |
| Real Matrix | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 08:28 PM
Hello Iv20, Thanks for helping out another Nepali. I am sure everyone here will be more than willing to help as all Sajhites have shown that spirit in the past.I am sure with San dai's help we could put up a ad or something on the front page and people across United States could help. You can contact San dai by clicking on the contact admin. I am from the same area and I wish I could help him every way but I sure will try to do my best. Good Luck to Bimal and I hope he finds an Angel donor or sponsor apart from the help here at Sajha. I hope his family well too. Real Matrix |
| down2earth | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 10:12 PM
It is good to see people trying to help out this one person who is going to be coming to the US for treatment soon. There are thousands of people who have suffered through the hands of the maoists and noone is thinking of raising money to help them. What the people living in the US and abroad need to do is set up some kind of fund to assist people living in Nepal who have been affected by maoist insurgency. This person is fortunate enough to be able to travel to the US - he is probably better off than the average maoist victim. Although trying to raise funds to help him is a novel gesture, what needs to be done is to have an ongoing fund generated to help the innocent victims of the insurgency who lay helpless in Nepal, who can't afford their next meal, let alone being able to travel to the US. My posting in no way undermines the care and treatment that lv20's friend needs and deserves. |
| bhunte | Posted
on 19-Nov-03 10:37 PM
I can feel how much pain and sufferings mr. chuke is going through. i pray for him that he gets well soon. If he arrives here, let's help him. |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 12:22 AM
down2earth, I like your idea to help the victims for their next meal. Do you have some idea what current programs are currently there to help these needy people. It seems that most of the benefits are usurped by politicians who on the name of damage to their personal properties claims highly infated sums of money from the government. Recently I read in a local newspaper that Padma Sundar Lawati is claiming with the Home Ministry Rs 1 karore for his damaged home in Taplejung. Is this justifiable? Isn't this a lucrative business? Instead we ought to help to the needy one for one's "next meal" as you have proposed. Just two cents! |
| KaleKrishna | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 12:51 AM
Yes, friends let us create some sort of fund and channel it through some proper outlets, so that it reach the needy. I guess it should not be that difficult with such organized Sajha forum and active members in Kathmandu to co-ordinate things back home. a dollar means a lot to the needy which many of us would be happy to share. There is this one pound campaign going in UK, may be something like that can be generated here at Sajha. KK |
| San | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 09:26 AM
It does make sense to create a general Help Fund through Sajha. I will be considering some options in order to get this in motion. As far as helping our Mr. Chuke, goes, I can put a link on the main page with an address and name so that people can send a check directly to that address. lv20 can you email me the name of the person check should be made payable to and the address the check should be sent to? Best Wishes, San |
| L-a-x | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 10:10 AM
its a good cause.....lets help whatever amount we can.. Appreciate ru ji...for your support... |
| lonely1 | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 03:36 PM
Mr. Chuke needs and deserves help. Please give out all the necessary details to make the fund raising easier. And I also support the idea of creating a general fund to support others in need. BUT let's begin with Chuke first. |
| lv20 | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 08:54 PM
Hello - I am sending 5 photos of Bimal. I've learned a little more about his situation from him. It was his dai's mother-in-law who they were taking to the hospital in the ambulance when the petrol bomb was thrown. I had though that the ambulance driver had died in the attack, but that is not true. The ambulance driver, Bimal's dai's father-in-law (the patient's husband) and Bimal's sister-in-law (the patient's daughter) all sustained minor injuries. After the attack, the patient didn't make it to the hospital, but died right there in the ambulance. I'm going to have to send the photos one by one.... so excuse the multiple postings! 
|
| lv20 | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 08:58 PM
I'm going to send the rest of the photos directly to San, as it seems that is the more appropriate thing to do. San, thanks for posting these (Bimal is here with me now and he says that it is fine for you to post them in whatever way you think is OK.). |
| Rosie | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 09:09 PM
San, Where is the link to donations? |
| lv20 | Posted
on 20-Nov-03 09:24 PM
Message from Bimal 
|
| peda | Posted
on 21-Nov-03 08:58 AM
I am very sad to hear the problem. I can see the scar on your body. At his rate of violence, almost the whole of our country will soon be scarred similarly. Good luck on your trip to John Hopkins. It is a big problem in our country that out leaders, even the king, go out of the country to have treatment. As a result lot of valuable money is lost(USA is probably the most expensive place for health care) and good centres are not developed in the country. This cycle goes on. A lot of people (even leaders) develop critical illness while in Nepal. It is often not possible to transfer them overseas in a serius state of health. Could it have been any different with better centre? Just a thought, maybe we should consider raising money for a world class centre in Nepal.We have lots of world class doctors and other health care staff, a lot of them working abroad. On a different note, it might help to write to the surgeon at John Hopkins if the treatment could be subsidised. It will also help to have a letter from the Nepalese surgeons that the treatment is not possible in Nepal. |
| Masti | Posted
on 21-Nov-03 11:27 AM
Absolutely, this is very sad news and I'm sorry to hear about this tragic situation. I really feel sorry for Mr. Bimal Chuke. I like peda's idea that we rather need to fund raise for better health care/center in Nepal than to take each person abroad for treatment. Looks like thanks to Laurie, Bimal is all set to come to Boston for treatment. However I'm just curious that if they tried to go to India, Bangkok, Singapore or some other closer place instead of USA. They would have save in plane ticket, accomodation, cheaper and still good quality treatement. In addition couple other his relative could go with him. Yes there are lots of world class Doctors in Nepal but how they work is still questionable. Not only doctors there are lots of other world class professional in Nepal including political leaders. When they are out of Nepal, everybody is so clean, talented, anti corruption. They will give a speech as if they could change Nepal immediately if they would have some kind of power. Same person makes a 180 degree about turn as soon as he lands in Nepal in his behavior. There are lots of Nepali Non profit Organisation around the world already established. They all have already done some work. So if you're really serious about raising the fund and do something in Nepal why not just approach those Org. and work together. Why do we have to establish another fund or Org. to do some specific work. For example I know there's a Org. HEN (Health related Org.), ENF (Empower Nepal Foundation), Pound something in England etc. Let's not invent the wheel everytime when we need something. Let's network within and outside our community, utilize our own people, Org. and money wisely. In today's world networking is stronger than anything else. Masti |
| sweetP | Posted
on 21-Nov-03 12:27 PM
Masti, You are absolutely correct. I never thought why Chuke would not go to other hospitals in nearby countries but would like to come to the US for that. I think he should do some research about other hospitals in countries that are not too far away from Nepal where the cost would be significantly less and save the expensive airfare. I had heard about a German project that came to Nepal that did plastic surgery for patients who had burns. They were very good doctors and also that the cost was free since it got money from Germany. Unfortunately, the person responsible, or the NGO that dealt with this was Sujatha Koirala. Nonetheless, I think they still did a really good job and the problems were only with the politics within. Laurie, Please find out about this German project thingy and let us know if it is still operative. As far as I recall the hospital is located in Sangu near Ktm. thanks, sweetP |
| harris | Posted
on 21-Nov-03 12:49 PM
Pedaji has raised a very valid point. Let me see this in economic perspective. My data are not authentic, but just an estimate from the experiences of different friends and families. Costs in the US can be tracked over the internet too..... Costs in Nepal 1. Broken arm/leg (fracture and fixture): Rs. 15,000 2. Appendicitis surgery: Rs. 15,000 3. Hemorroids surgery: Rs. 15,000 4. Baby delivery (normal): Rs. 5,000 Cost in USA 1. Broken arm/leg (fracture and fixture): $12,000 2. Appendicitis surgery: $10,000 3. Hemorroids surgery: $14,000 4. Baby delivery (normal): $7,000 These are simple examples. Now what ever the money we raise for an individual basis, we may never be able to help many people in trouble. Unless one has some kind of insurance, the costs can't be imagined by anyone coming from developing country, like me. There are ways to get the services in an individual basis, like being a subject of experiment or getting donations from charities. However, for a general mass, that is not possible. We have examples of Apolo hospital in India that provides open heart surgery for NRs. 25. It excludes the cost of living of attendent and costs outside the hospital. If we start a good work, why not follow such model example? Let's help individuals on case basis as need arises. The long term option for Nepalese living abroad to help Nepales living home is to transfer the technologies and services back home. It will provide good services at lower opportunity costs for wider beneficiaries. Let's build more hospitals and train more doctors and nurses, let's provide them better facilities in return to their services to own people so that we can stop brain drain of those vital workers. Good luck! |
| zIon | Posted
on 21-Nov-03 02:50 PM
SweetP - if you feel like helping then please do so but do not attempt to give this genuine cause a negative twist by doubting if he should come to US for the treatment. If I was him then I would've done the same knowing that I can get a better treatment here and I am sure you would do the same. It is easy to "Monday Morning Quarterback" but it is a little different when you are trying to win a game on Sunday. |
| peda | Posted
on 21-Nov-03 03:04 PM
Interesting comparision Harris and so true also. I have heard of the charity sweetp mentioned. I also know a plastic surgeon (who is USA trained) who treated my sister-in law when she had extensive burns. It is after all individual choice to go to any centre one likes. Sounds like Bimal is lucky to have such a very good support. So good luck! There would be cases, once a while, which would need a highly expert treatment. But such treatments would need to be channelised. Personally I would not pay $3000 just for initial consultation and diagnosis. I am sure Nepalese docs can do that and refer to appropriate places if necessary. Masti, I do not blame you for not trusting Nepalese doctors. Even our leaders don't trust them.I once remember K.P. Bhattarai going for a cataract surgery in Canada (the thing which is done in thousands in eye camp in Nepal). It is a trend and true there are some problems. A lot of them stem from communication gap (our docs are not very good at it). On the whole, I think they are doing very good job in the prevailing context.You cannot compare the facilities, pay etc in US and Nepal for e.g.And they are treated like any other ordinary karmachari in health ministry which does not happen anywhere else in the world. I think we should learn to trust them. Where ever we go in our good days, when we are dying, we need them. Before I close, I would like to wish Bimalji a fruitful visit to US. Hope your problem gets rectified. |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 21-Nov-03 04:15 PM
Thanks San and Lv20 for initiating the Help Line for Bimal ji. The suffering Bimal has been going through is terrible as evident from the posted pictures in the help line. It is very sad that the insurgents also attacked ambulance vehicle. To my view, the current treatment would be more like cosmetic than live saving one. I was initially thinking of some substantial surgical procedure and amputation of body parts. So the token support we provide may be a symbolic one. I don't know if there are any other longrun health consequences after the causalty. Meanwhile while Mr Chuke is in States, he may want to consider for taking an aslym. I think there is a strong case for it. I believe once he has a PR status, he can get more better medical services later, and can play an activitist role as well while in US. Just two cents.... |
| Hercules | Posted
on 22-Nov-03 08:46 AM
Peda ji, There's a difference between when you go on your own and appealing for help. When you're on your own, you're right that people have their own choice. They can go anywhere they want. But if you're appealing for others help, Nepali leader going for going for a cataract surgery to Canada using public/Govt. money there's a difference. Don't you think so? I'm not judging or discouraging Bimal's trip anyway. Good Luck to Bimal. |
| sweetP | Posted
on 22-Nov-03 10:27 AM
zIon, If Bimal is all set to come to US for treatment, I do not think that whatever I said will make him change his mind. He is applealing for help and I said what I thought about the case. If he didn't ask for help, I would't share my opinions with him. As Bhunte said, it is more of a cosmetic treatment than any life saving thing. Sure zIon would come to US for treatment as you think that this is the best choice. I would however, try other places like India or Bangkok before I come to US, specially when I have no funding of my own. |
| peda | Posted
on 22-Nov-03 11:13 AM
I agree with you Hecules. That's why I said a letter from a Nepalese surgeon would help. |
| lv20 | Posted
on 22-Nov-03 07:01 PM
Hi - Thanks San for the very respectful appeal that you posted on the web page. I’ve been thinking a lot about so many of the issues that different folks have brought up here. I even went to the extent of thinking through an impassioned response to some of the things that I have disagreed with on a personal level. But doing that made me think a lot about the fears that I have for Bimal. I want to protect him from being used, being pitied and being dismissed. I fear that he will become just a pitiable victim. And I feel responsible for some of that happening, as I have been the one to send out this appeal and to post the photos (although he's read everything we've written so far and wanted to have the photos posted). The impassioned response that I had imagined likely would have served more of a purpose of making him more of a victim, instead of serving more of a purpose of generating respect for Bimal. So, I’m going to try here to be honest and to let you all know however much it is that I know… To be completely honest, I have self interest in helping Bimal. After first having met him, I felt as though I reconnected with some of the things that I have found good about Nepal and Nepali people. I respected his courage in the face of very personal pain, his perseverance in the face of such a difficult situation, his willingness to try to tap into whatever resources he can to ease the situation a bit, and his integrity. This isn't to say that I think of him as a saint or that he’s somehow a perfect human being. The thing was for me that I really just needed to see something positive and do what I could to support it. I really have no idea whether Bimal will be helped in the States. I agree that $3000 is an exorbitant amount just for one medical appointment that may, in the end, go nowhere. But I guess that I've come to see this as an investment in possibility. And I guess that I don't begrudge Bimal for trying. Although the 17 operations that he has had thus far have been here in Nepal, he has investigated the possibilities in India. The issue now is specifically his right ear… of course plastic surgery that could restore his skin would be very wonderful, but the main issue for him is the threat of ongoing infections and the concern about impacts on his hearing as a possible consequence. As far as his investigations have unearthed, the specific ear reconstructive diagnosis and treatment is not available nearby. His Doctors are the ones who have encouraged him to seek treatment at Johns Hopkins. The medical care that Bimal has gotten here has saved his life. It is only because of the timeliness and the quality of his care here in Nepal that he was able to survive those critical first few days and months when the threats of infection are particularly dangerous. So, I do not want to misrepresent the fact that he has gotten quality care here in Nepal from a number of Doctors who have themselves made incredible sacrifices working in really challenging conditions. I’m thinking that if there is an overwhelming financial response to these appeals, and Bimal can generate enough money for his care from other sources (i.e., a sponsorship, a pro bono case, or whatever), that we could use whatever extra money comes in as seed money for any of the ideas that have been mentioned here. But, in the end, I suppose that will be Bimal’s decision as the money has come in his name. Thanks again for your support. Regards, Laurie |
| Bhunte | Posted
on 22-Nov-03 07:55 PM
Laurie ji, We would like to thank you for helping Bimal as well. Once Bimal is here, it is also our shared moral responsibility to take care of him. Since the information you provided earlier were very sketchy, what some of Sajhites concerned or confused here were also genuine. Now you have laid out clearly. I am not sure but his treatment may be made without incurring any substantial expense when Bimal's situation is properly communicated to the JHU administration. Since it is a preexisting condition and no health insurer would accept for his medical insurance, complete restoration to original condition may be prohibitive. Can we generate enough resource if the cost of treatment is something like US$100,000 or so? One need to think of all possible alternatives... just a thought. |
| lv20 | Posted
on 11-Dec-03 08:25 AM
Namaste - I just wanted to update sajha folks on what's happening with Bimal. We've managed to raise about $700 thus far, which will cover the cost of his initial consultation at Johns Hopkins as well as some of the plane ticket. We're in Boston now and will leave for Baltimore on Saturday morning. Thanks to everyone for their generosity and any help you've been able to provide! We hope to meet many of you at this Friday's chhalphal discussion in Cambridge! |