Abielle Hallas, The Leprosy Mission Great Britain

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Kamal’s smile is infectious as he plays with his little sister outside their home in rural Nepal. It isn’t much – just two rooms, with a tin roof that leaks in the monsoon. His family don’t have a lot of money. His dad, Romesh, ekes out a living as a builder, and mum Premila keeps a small arm to put food on the table. They’re determined to give their children the best start in life.

They didn’t know that leprosy threatened to tear everything apart.

It started when Kamal was seven. Strange patches had appeared on his face. His parents didn’t know the problem was. As was usual, they visited a traditional healer.

But instead of recognising leprosy, he said that Kamal was cursed by a snake god.

Can you imagine the terror that gripped Kamal’s parents? They did everything they could to lift the “curse”. But nothing worked.

Each day, they watched in desperation as their son’s health deteriorated. His tongue became sore, and he struggled to breathe through his nose. And all the while, Kamal wondered what he had done to warrant the pain he was in.

I’m sure you’ll agree – no child should think that leprosy is their fault. No child should think they deserve to suffer.

As Kamal’s health got worse, his parents knew they had to act. And so, Premila made the brave decision to go to the Leprosy Mission’s Anandaban Hospital.

High in the hills above Kathmandu, this special place is a beacon of hope for people affected by leprosy across Nepal. For many, it’s the only place they can get the free treatment they urgently need, and the compassion they deserve.

At Anandaban Hospital, kind doctors quickly diagnosed Kamal with leprosy. Left untreated, the disease causes permanent disability. But thanks to you, Kamal was cured in time. The disease won’t steal his feeling or his mobility. Premila is so grateful!

And that’s not the end of the wonderful difference you’ve made!

As you can imagine, the stigma Kamal had faced had taken its emotional toll. Ruth, the counsellor at Anandaban, gently explained to Kamal that he wasn’t cursed. She even went to his village to dispel the myths and stigma surrounding the disease.

Thanks to Ruth’s dedication, Kamal came home to a more understanding and welcoming community. He’s so happy to be back home with his family and going to school again.

Like any mum, Premila wants her children to have a good life. One full of opportunity and joy. Now because of you, Kamal can enjoy his childhood and look to the future with hope. You can see just what it means from his beaming smile!

Thank you so much for your compassion for children affected by leprosy. Your incredible generosity will bring healing and hope to families when they need it most. And you’ll make even more amazing stories and smiles like Kamal’s possible!