Tara bedridden, family in trouble

By Chandani Acharya, Ghodaghodi (Kailali), Dec 13: The family of the differently able 33-year-old Chhabi Lal Chaudhary of Himmatpur, Ghodaghodi Municipality-1, was torn apart when his wife who has been running a family suddenly fell ill with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Chhabi Lal is from a free bonded labour (Mukta Kamaiya) camp.

Chhabi Lal already had the gift of skills in hand, and with his wife's support, he could operate a small business in a wheelchair from his home. But, the tragedy struck their family as the matriarch of the family fell sick with SCD. The constant feeling of how he is going to raise a family and secure good treatment and medicine for his sick wife always lingers in Chhabi Lal’s mind. 

There was constant pain in the legs of 32-year-old Tara Kumari Chaudhary for a year. Assuming that it might have been a neurology issue she was taking medicine without consulting an expert. 

She was admitted to a hospital which is at Sukhkhad, Ghodaghodi after suddenly she became unable to walk. She then tested positive for sickle cells. While moving in the vicinity of her home taking the support of a stick, Tara said, “It has been a year since I am experiencing pain in the leg. I opted for hospital and therapy, but when the pain grew worse I went to do an X-ray. The doctor after looking at the X-ray said that I have a severe problem and was referred to Ghodaghodi Hospital.” 

She received treatment in hospital for four days after being tested positive for SCD on December 10.  

Chhabi Lal said that Tara has joint pain due to sickle cell disease. Now that Tara has to go to Kathmandu for an operation on the hip joint bone, Chhabi Lal is worried about finances.

Living in a free bonded labour (Mukta Kamaiya) camp, living daily on a hand-to-mouth basis selling peanuts, making bamboo objects, and cultivating mushroom, to earn a living, Chhabi Lal and Tara does not have any other option than to ask for help when an unthinkable illness knocked their doors. 

They have a son and they got married in 2013. 

Locals said that they got married when taking stitching training and became the ideal couple who works together harmoniously. 

Medical doctor Dr Mohammad Anas Sheikh at the Ghodaghodi Hospital said, “I asked for a sickle cell disease test after having suspicion of the disease and it came positive.”

Saying that sickle cell disease which can be hereditary causes joint pain, anemia, severe pain in the backbone and ribs, swollen liver and breathing problems, Dr Sheikh said that Tara has minor symptoms but has a previous history of health issues, her hip joint has wear and tear because of which she needs an operation. 

There are two types of sickle cell disease, Tara has a minor one. She will get free treatment at the hospital. The hip operation is impossible here, so Tara is referred to Nepalgunj or Kathmandu. 

Around 200-300 people receive regular medicine for sickle cells and can be tested for sickle cells in the Ghodaghodi Hospital.