Search

Freeing Sirisu’s Hand

Share this story

Sirisu is a charming 4-year-old from Nepal who accidentally scalded his arm while making hot food for his cow, severely burning his left hand and forearm. The initial care he received was limited to changing the dressings over his wounds. This did not allow his burns to heal properly, leaving him with binding scars that restricted his ability to open his hand, straighten his wrist or use his hand for day-to-day activities.

Dr. Nancy Chee, our volunteer occupational and hand therapist who went on the trip to Nepal, met Sirisu early on in the trip. Dr. Shankar Man Rai, ReSurge’s longtime partner and director emeritus of our Surgical Outreach Program in Nepal, had just performed surgery on Sirisu’s burn scars to release his hand and wrist when she met him.

Sirisu would cheerfully greet Nancy every morning as she arrived at the hospital. Then she and Mohan, our hand therapist with the Surgical Outreach program whom Nancy has mentored for many years, brought him in for follow-up care and rehabilitation to help ensure that his hand and wrist function would be restored.

“After a dressing change and treatment, he is now happily running around the hospital with his bright red splint and straight wrist and hand!” said Nancy.

When he wasn’t running around, he was eagerly posing for our team members’ photos or cheerfully coloring away in a picture book. Nancy said that while Sirisu was not quite ready to fully use his injured hand just yet, he was already able to reach and pinch well enough to put together a block puzzle.

“But he will soon be doing all the things little boys do and probably be much more careful around his cow!” she added.

Share this story

Recent Stories

Dr. Vinita Puri - KEM Hospital Mumbai, India

Dr. Vinita Puri is Mending Lives

Dr. Vinita Puri is a true humanitarian. She is a professor and the head of the plastic and reconstructive surgery department at KEM hospital in Mumbai, India, and has been...

Read More

We are grateful for our opportunity to touch the lives of those needing surgical treatment worldwide and grow sustainable systems for local surgical teams in low-income countries. However, we cannot make an impact without your support. Donate today to create a ripple effect that changes the world through life-changing, no-cost reconstructive surgeries.

Jacob Youssef Samuel - Burn Survivor

Last Chance To Give in 2023!

Any gift made before Jan 1 is doubled with a 2x match!

Jacob Youssef Samuel - Burn Survivor

Make Your Year-End Gift

Join us in transforming lives through reconstructive surgical care.
Any gift made before Jan. 1st is doubled with a 2X match!

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get some impact in your inbox with inspirational stories and ReSurge updates.