Help!
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| Marie - GenMed Lab Mom |
Tell me I'm doing the right thing! Tell me I am not insane, crazy, cuckoo or otherwise nuts.
With all that is happening in my life - daughter getting married, 31 year-old son with duchenne, job that is highly, highly, highly demanding - I am adding yet another piece into the mix.
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| The soon to be happily married couple |
It will take me away, by myself, to a foreign land, with a language barrier, at a time when administration of our research grants program will surge.
I am going to Nepal.
Nepal! Nepal! Nepal!
I am excited, scared, and excited again.
Why, you may ask? To trek the Himalayas? The jungle? To find the cat in Katmandu? To see the blue sheep or the red panda or cuddle with the cobras, vipers, and pythons? And let's not forget the omnivorous crocodile (which, I'm told, eats anything).
You might think it's to observe the newly formed Federal Democratic Republic, celebrating it's fifth year of independence from the Nepalese monarchy?
Or the people. And now you're getting warm. I am personally interested in the majority Buddhists and Hindu culture and religion. The temples, the rituals, the life.
That will be just a sideline.
What I'm really, truly, and humbly trying to do is to find out if I can I help a friend in need. Not only a friend but his friends too. Many of you know him from Facebook, Nirmal Khadka from Muscular Dystrophy Organization Nepal (Banepa Kavre Nepal).
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| Nepalese boy with muscular dystrophy |
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| Petey, 31, with Duchenne |
And I have to do something.
This will be a 'fact finding mission' totally paid for by me. To figure out what these boys needs are that I might be able to provide.
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| friends from work |
But first things first. I asked for help and I mean it.
What can I bring as little gifts? One of my colleagues suggested crayons and coloring books. It has to be portable and small and probably not food. If I could bring food, what about candy bars?
Suggestions?
I'm getting fashion advice from my Indian lady friends (India is a neighbor of Nepal). In the villages, I am to wear long dresses with leggings and a scarf. Sounds do-able. Someone at the lab called me the fashion police. Believe me, what I know about fashionable can be found in the dusty corners of my dresser!
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| My Indian Lady Friends |
I struggle with this on every trip to China. You've an advantage - many of the folks you will see will have a strong interest in DMD. How about putting together a group of photos of the labs? Then at least you can say, here is where we work on learning about DMD and trying to improve healthcare for DMD. Perhaps that would serve as a lasting reminder of hope. Of course, if Nepal is really like China, they'd rather have a pair of Calvin Klein genes or a Coach handbag :\
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea Jon - I already have a lot but I can take more. thank you!
DeleteSuch an adventure and lovely thing to do! I'm sending a donation to help with the gifts. Candy is a great idea if it's allowable. Some cultures love our baseball hats too.
ReplyDeleteBaseball hats - good idea too!
ReplyDeleteUmmm... I would nix the candy. Dental care isn't the best there... Nirmal can probably tell you that. And the extra High Fructose Corn syrup for someone already compromised? When I went to Tibet, I entered through Nepal... And Toothbrushes were appreciated! Small, easy to pack, and useful. You might also consider bringing some essential oils they could use. Oregano, Thyme, etc for keeping away chest ailments. You might talk to DoTerra - They may even donate some oils to the cause. And vitamins!!! These families are struggling with the extra effort of caring for a child with Duchenne... they don't have the time/energy/knowledge to provide balanced food at each meal... That's my two cents.
ReplyDeleteHi Lara - toothbrushes and vitamins - those are excellent ideas. Also I love essential oils and something I wouldn't have thought of.
ReplyDeleteAlso, sounds like you know of what you speak - is that because of your travels? thank you!