By Sarah Beckhaus | Communications Manager
Arjun is from one of Nepal’s most underprivileged districts in the Terai. He was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a congenital condition also known as brittle bone disease. Caused by defects in collagen production, the rare disorder made his bones extremely fragile. From a very early age, he suffered from frequent bone fractures, and skeletal deformities have made everyday life extremely challenging.
Arjun’s parents work as day laborers and struggle to meet even basic needs, so many of his injuries went without proper care and healing. For years, he was unable to walk on his own and depended entirely on others to help him with day-to-day tasks. He couldn’t go to school or play with friends, and his family lived in constant worry about his future.
Everything changed for Arjun when a mobile clinic run by the Hospital and Rehabilitation center for Disabled Children (HRDC) traveled through his village. Recognizing the severity of his condition, doctors admitted him to the main hospital in Banepa to receive specialized surgery. Through a series of careful procedures and months of rehabilitation, both of Arjun’s legs were straightened, allowing him to stand and walk on his own for the first time in his life.
Today, Arjun is living with newfound independence. He has returned to school and dreams of becoming a teacher—eager to build a life defined not by his condition, but by his potential. He continues to return to HRDC for annual check-ups, each visit marking another milestone in his progress.
Arjun’s story is one of many. Each year, hundreds of children with conditions like his receive life-changing surgeries, rehabilitation, and care. With the right support, children who struggle every day to live a normal life can gain independence and feel hopeful for their future.
Thank you for supporting HRDC and helping make these transformations possible.
To learn more about our work and the HRDC please visit the links below:
All names have been changed for privacy and images are representative. Photo credits: Luigi Fieni
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
