Help Nyima's Family - Medical & Living Expenses

UPDATE: Spring 2023

In February, I went to Nepal for a month. Within 12 hours of landing in Kathmandu, I was reunited with Nyima and her two sisters, Phurbu and Dawa. I hadn't seen them since Cody and I had been up in Samagaun in the Manaslu Region in 2016. They are now in Kathmandu attending boarding school and thriving! They even know English so for the first time, I was able to communicate with them directly without a translator.

Phurbu, myself, Nyima, and Dawa

Dawa, Nyima and Phurbu (photo courtesy of Tsering Doma)

That same day, Pasang, Nyima's older brother, was on a flight to Pokhara so he could start the difficult road of recovery after being bedridden for 5 months in the ICU. Due to severe medical difficulties and surgery on his brain to release internal bleeding, he had the painful journey of relearning how to walk and talk. As he started his physical and cognitive therapy, I was able to visit him in the hospital several times while I was in Nepal. The hospital did not provide food for his caregiver (and brother), Chirwan, or himself so we set up a tab at the hospital restaurant so the boys would have daily nutritious meals available to them. We specifically requested healthy fats and proteins to build Pasang's strength back up. It is customary for families to provide one family member to stay at the hospital to provide aid to the patient. Chirwan has faithfully stayed by his brother's side for months, feeding him, changing him, and helping him through therapy.

Pasang, Chirwan, and Prem

Thank you for your donations - your money has gone directly to providing for these children.

Moving Forward!

When I spoke to the girls about their schooling, they shyly told me about their favorite classes and how their studies were going. They also said they are learning computer skills (one of the most important skills in furthering their education and securing a good job out of school). However, their school does not have computers - all of their studies are by book. I was able to communicate through friends to the heads of the hostel where the girls live when in school. To ensure equality, they suggested that if we were to donate a laptop to the girls, it would be a donation to the house so all the children could use it and have the opportunity to gain these practical yet important skills. I loved the idea of helping even more kids so we are hoping to raise money for at least 3 laptops (approx USD 500 each) for the house. There are about 18-20 kids who live in the house.

Pasang's health continues to improve and we are hopeful that he will be able to go back to school and graduate high school! He plans to study hospitality and hotel management in college. He has also been teaching the younger grades in his school and has a bright future ahead of him! The last update I received from friends in Nepal was that he was being released from the hospital for a few weeks to see family and then will return for a checkup and any further therapy if needed. The first week in February was rough with the doctors not feeling hopeful for his recovery. I met with doctors and nurses along with my friend and Director of the KarmaFlights Organization, Prem Kunwar. We insisted that he was a determined and intelligent boy, so they decided to push him harder increasing his therapy. Within a couple more weeks, his rapid improvement surprised us all!

Chirwan helping Pasang with his physical therapy (photo courtesy of Prem Kunwar)

Prem, Pasang, and Chirwan at the hospital - physical and cognitive therapy going well!

Nyima, Pasang, and Phurbu before Pasang's hospitalization (photo courtesy of Tsering Doma)

Original Message written in October 2022:

Seven years ago, Cody and I met a family in a remote village of Nepal that would change the way we look at life forever. In 2015, we were part of a film project on a climbing expedition on the north face of Annapurna 1. When the largest earthquake in a century shook the country, we transitioned to emergency aid relief partnering with large NGO’s and local nonprofits to bring aid to the remote villages that had been devastated by the earthquake. In one of those villages, Cody met a family in great need. We proceeded work with others to get the immediate help they needed and then trekked back into the village a few months later to create a short film about their family and the oppressive caste system that still affects many in that country. Through that, we were able to raise enough money to purchase land for them, help rebuild their home and send the children to school. Along with some other incredible people, these children are still going to school and able to see a brighter future because of Cody and his heart for them.

A few days ago, I was contacted by a good friend and National Director of KarmaFlights Organization based in Pokhara, Nepal. One of the boys, Pasang, has been in the hospital for over three weeks due to internal bleeding. He is on the mend now, but the hospital bills have piled up, as have expenses for the family. Pema, his mother, has traveled the long way from the remote village of Samagaun down to Kathmandu to be with him and the sisters. My goal is to raise $3000 for his hospital expenses and another $3000 for the entire family. That $3000 will cover living expenses for an entire year, including helping with school fees, textbooks, food, and other living expenses for four children at a boarding school in Kathmandu and their mother, who is in Samagaun.

A little bit about Pasang: He is one of 6 living children. He was shy and solemn when we first met their beautiful family in 2015, but as we spent time with them, he started to open up. I learned that he is an incredible artist, and when we asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he shyly shrugged, not knowing how to answer the question. No one had ever asked him that or given him hope that there was any other destiny than poverty. He is now in school studying hospitality and excelling! His future is so bright, and I pray that he is able to recover so he can continue his path.

When we created the documentary, Nyima, we hoped to share their story with the world, but it wasn’t just for their family; it was to bring hope to other impoverished children and families across the Himalaya. Our goal was to ensure that all of Nyima’s family who wanted to receive an education would have the opportunity to do so. My long-term goal is to continue scholarship programs for other children in the same situation.

This family is near and dear to my heart not only because of the time I’ve spent with them but the way Cody loved them so unconditionally. He would lay awake at night worrying about their well-being and hoping he could do enough to help them.

100% of this money will go directly to this family. It will be used for hospital fees, living expenses and education. Cody was only one person, but he sure dreamed big and inspired many people to look outside of themselves and at the world around them, and I see that so clearly with this beautiful family and how much he cared about them.

Click on this link to read more information and the backstory of Nyima and her family, and watch the documentary!

In Loving Memory of Cody Tuttle - a shining light to all who knew him.