A story of Local Response by Gaj Bahadur Gurung
The name of the boy was Sanjeev. He was around eight years old and the doctors predicted that he was going to die soon . This happened in 2006 at Kathmandu. Sanjeev was suffering from blood cancer and doctors predicted his death within six months. He had a mother and sister but they had no money. I, along with seven other young people, used to volunteer in the entomological ward providing the children suffering from cancer with any support that we could. The doctors suggested that we take the Sanjeev to his village and that was his mother's wish too. But we had no money to travel 300 km with two children and we were just students.
We decided to collect money from our relatives and we had very little time. The National Festival was two days away and we needed to do it very soon as we would get no transportation for the next one week due to the festival. We collected a little money, enough to meet the expense of his family. We bought him some new clothes and some toys and also our travel expenses. Again unfortunately we got just two seats on the night bus which meant that we had to stand for 10 to 12 hours. We rotated for the seat during the whole night.
It was the most unforgettable journey not because we had to stand but to see the mother's endless love and patience. The doctors had suggested to fulfil every dream and desire of Sanjeev. He could eat anything. But his mother did not allow him to eat what he was not supposed to eat earlier. The pain of the mother for not being able to do anything for the son was something that cannot be explained. Only the mother could feel that situation.
Once we entered into the village, Sanjeev was greeted by the villagers and shouting that Sanjeev is fine now without knowing the facts. They asked her mother, but tears were the only answer from the mother. We could also arrange the supply of medicines for Sanjeev coordinating with the doctors from Kathmandu. But sent Jean died within two months.
This whole journey of preparing and taking Sanjeev to his village is still fresh in my memory and everytime motivates me to serve for the cause of the community. The sensitivity within me to be human was triggered by the dying Sanjeev. This also made me realise that one life counts a lot. It was not just Sanjeev dying in the hospital but if his mothers and sisters too if not taken to the village. We saved two lives in the name of one and it motivates me to save more lives in my own life. Everywhere I share this story, my energy to serve gets accelerated and I find myself in the area of life where something worthwhile has taken place, at least that's what I believe and I will keep believing in the future.