- B
- H
This is Dekyi Lhazee, a young girl living in East Tibet with a miraculous second chance for life. She lives there with her mother Chokyi and father Tsering Dumdul, and her four siblings. Her parents and their community live a traditional nomadic life, that is mostly tending yak and sheep. For many generations they are living mostly from the land without much money. Dekyi likes to spend her time playing with her siblings and the animals, and especially enjoys the occasional treat of new clothes and shoes, or sweets from town like biscuits or cookies. She will be three years old this May.
On January 18th, early in the morning Dekyi suffered extreme burns from her chest down to her feet while at home with two of her younger siblings, while the eldest two were out helping their parents with the animals. Dekyi is the daughter of my second cousin. Our family is very close, my brothers in Tibet are helping the family but don’t have much money, as they are also nomads.
In the summer in Tibet some families live in tents, and in the winter they usually stay in their houses. In each house is a central fireplace where they keep water hot all day. In the summer it is a small pot, and low to the ground which they use for cooking and ongoing activities like making milk and cheese. In the winter though it is much bigger as it is also used to heat the home, made from a large pot over a yak dung fire, set up and surrounded by a stone wall roughly four feet in height.
Dekyi is an adventurous child with a lot of energy. She loves to run and jump and explore things. On this day though her light hearted games led to a devastating and life changing accident. While playing with her siblings she climbed the stone wall of the fireplace and fell into the pot of boiling water. Her younger siblings were too small to pull her out and ran to the field nearby to get her parents.
The distance, about a few blocks away, was short enough to save her life while she waited for help, but a long enough time that she developed severe burns, especially along her legs, and may not be able to walk again.
I am raising funds to help cover the costs of the immediate medical needs, and the parents’ travel expenses to the hospital in China where she is being treated. This immediate need is about $18,000 but I hope that we can help them also for the future as she will need treatments and assistance for the rest of her life. We wish to give her the best healing and opportunities in her new life and are deeply grateful for your loving support of our sister in Tibet.
Samten Dakpa
Thankga Artist
Queens, NYC
http://samdak.com/
This essay was coauthored for Samten Dakpa by Lara Shari Brodsky, his art student and friend, in order to assist with the english language. All funds will be received by Samten and sent to the family in Tibet for the present and future needs of Dekyi Lhazee. If you have any other questions please contact us at samtendakpathangka[AT]gmail.com. Thank you for your support.
Samten is a traditional Tibetan artist and the co-founder of the non-profit organization Tibetan Bridge, working to bring the impoverished children of Eastern Tibet a chance to become well educated and successful members of their society. Read more of Tibetan Bridge at www.tibetanbridge.org .
On January 18th, early in the morning Dekyi suffered extreme burns from her chest down to her feet while at home with two of her younger siblings, while the eldest two were out helping their parents with the animals. Dekyi is the daughter of my second cousin. Our family is very close, my brothers in Tibet are helping the family but don’t have much money, as they are also nomads.
In the summer in Tibet some families live in tents, and in the winter they usually stay in their houses. In each house is a central fireplace where they keep water hot all day. In the summer it is a small pot, and low to the ground which they use for cooking and ongoing activities like making milk and cheese. In the winter though it is much bigger as it is also used to heat the home, made from a large pot over a yak dung fire, set up and surrounded by a stone wall roughly four feet in height.
Dekyi is an adventurous child with a lot of energy. She loves to run and jump and explore things. On this day though her light hearted games led to a devastating and life changing accident. While playing with her siblings she climbed the stone wall of the fireplace and fell into the pot of boiling water. Her younger siblings were too small to pull her out and ran to the field nearby to get her parents.
The distance, about a few blocks away, was short enough to save her life while she waited for help, but a long enough time that she developed severe burns, especially along her legs, and may not be able to walk again.
I am raising funds to help cover the costs of the immediate medical needs, and the parents’ travel expenses to the hospital in China where she is being treated. This immediate need is about $18,000 but I hope that we can help them also for the future as she will need treatments and assistance for the rest of her life. We wish to give her the best healing and opportunities in her new life and are deeply grateful for your loving support of our sister in Tibet.
Samten Dakpa
Thankga Artist
Queens, NYC
http://samdak.com/
This essay was coauthored for Samten Dakpa by Lara Shari Brodsky, his art student and friend, in order to assist with the english language. All funds will be received by Samten and sent to the family in Tibet for the present and future needs of Dekyi Lhazee. If you have any other questions please contact us at samtendakpathangka[AT]gmail.com. Thank you for your support.
Samten is a traditional Tibetan artist and the co-founder of the non-profit organization Tibetan Bridge, working to bring the impoverished children of Eastern Tibet a chance to become well educated and successful members of their society. Read more of Tibetan Bridge at www.tibetanbridge.org .
Organizer and beneficiary
Samten Dakpa
Beneficiary