The scent of freshly threshed rice usually brought a sense of relief to Maya Dhawal during harvest season in Nepal. It meant a small income for her family. But one fateful day, a gust of wind transformed her routine into a nightmare, forever altering her life.
LEFT: Lee Meow Hong (right) displays a photo of Master Cheng Yen. Maya Dhawal (center) immediately puts her palms together and says, "I know her!" Ram Bikash Dhawal (left) also joins, saying, "If there is anyone who surpasses God, it must be Master Cheng Yen!" RIGHT: Dr. Nirdesh Shakya (left) and Dr. Ching Chen Hua (莊菀佳) (right) visit Maya Dhawal at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. | Photos: Lee Meow Hong (李妙紅)
A Life-Altering Accident
On April 12, 2024, Maya's sari, caught by the wind, was tragically pulled into a threshing machine, inflicting severe injuries that would ultimately cost her left leg. The accident plunged her family, already living on the margins in Madhubani Village, Lumbini, into an unimaginable crisis. Her husband, Ram Bikash Dhawal, a construction worker whose meager earnings of about 3.50 USD per day barely sustained them, was overwhelmed. Their eldest daughter had already left school three years prior due to poverty, and their two younger sons, aged eleven and nine, still needed an education. The weight of mounting medical bills became unbearable.
Ram Bikash, accompanied by their neighbor Govind Dhawal, sought help from the Tzu Chi office in Lumbini. Maya had been hospitalized at Universal College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital (UCMS) and was advised to transfer to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Kathmandu for further treatment. The family was already burdened by existing medical expenses, with 60,000 Nepalese Rupees (about 422 USD) from her uncle and 300,000 Nepalese Rupees (about 2,112 USD) borrowed from friends, plus a loan of 400,000 Nepalese Rupees (about 2,816 USD). When Tzu Chi volunteers visited, the children's desperate plea echoed their family's deepest fear:
Tzu Chi doesn't need to give us food; we just hope you can help Mom heal her leg.
Finding Strength Amidst Despair
Maya clung to the hope of saving her leg, telling medical volunteers, "I'm not in pain; I just hope to save my leg so I can continue working and help my family." But the severity of her injuries left no choice, and her left leg was amputated on May 17, followed by a skin graft. The physical pain was immense, but the emotional burden was heavier. Upon her discharge, when medical volunteers visited to explain home care, her three children, initially frightened, could only watch from a distance, their young faces streaked with tears.
During one of these regular visits, medical volunteer Lee Meow Hong showed Maya a photo of Master Cheng Yen on her phone. A flicker of recognition crossed Maya's face. She immediately put her palms together, saying, "I know her!" Her husband, Ram Bikash, deeply moved, added, "If there is anyone who surpasses God, it must be Dharma Master Cheng Yen!" This moment of profound connection offered a glimmer of hope in their darkest hour.
LEFT: The visiting team distributes food monthly and invited Maya's eldest daughter, who had dropped out of school, to join a sewing class to learn a skill. | Photo: Tulsi Narayan Matang RIGHT: To regain her former life, Maya Dhawal (left) diligently undergoes rehabilitation. | Photo: Lee Meow Hong
Rebuilding a Life, Step by Step
Tzu Chi's support extended beyond medical care. The construction team built a much-needed toilet, paved a concrete path, and extended the roof to provide better shelter, transforming their living conditions. The visiting team ensured the family had food, and Maya's eldest daughter, who had left school, was invited to join a sewing class, gaining a valuable skill that offers a path to self-sufficiency. Ram Bikash also found work, and as the family's life gradually stabilized, food assistance was no longer needed.
Six months after her surgery, the prospect of a prosthetic limb brought a new wave of hope. Maya was eager to return to work, to contribute to her family once more. Her first visit to the prosthetics center was met with the compassionate guidance of Prem, a technician who, having a prosthetic himself, understood her fears and hopes. Yet, the journey was not without its difficulties. The prosthetic caused friction and pain, leading Maya to temporarily stop using it. But the volunteers were there, offering practical solutions like padding and encouraging her daughter to help with daily walking exercises.
LEFT: Maya Dhawal (center) shares her story at the Tzu Chi office, speaking of her pain but also the courage she found through Dharma Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi to embrace the future. | Photo: Bishnu Gaud RIGHT: Medical volunteer Chang Mei-Ling (張美玲) (right) encourages Maya Dhawal (left), believing she will regain confidence and walk steadily with continued practice. | Photo: Ramesh
An Inspiring Journey
Maya's story, shared at a community volunteer training, moved many to tears. Nurse Bitisha Bhandari, who had witnessed Maya's despair, found herself choked with emotion while translating. Medical volunteer Chang Mei-Ling spoke of Maya's "excitement and bravery" during the prosthetic fitting, calling it a "deep inspiration." On October 6, when Maya walked with her prosthetic for the first time, Chang Mei-Ling felt "incredibly moved," confident that Maya would regain her confidence and walk more steadily with continued practice.
LEFT: Prem (left), a technician who also uses a prosthetic, patiently explains and guides Maya Dhawal (right), making her feel at ease. RIGHT: Seeing Maya Dhawal (left) walk with her prosthetic for the first time, medical volunteer Chang Mei-Ling (right) says, "I was incredibly moved! Especially when she was getting her prosthetic fitted, she was so excited and brave, which deeply inspired me." | Photos: Ramesh
Maya Dhawal's path has been arduous, marked by profound loss and struggle. Yet, through her unwavering spirit and the enduring compassion of the volunteers, she is not just learning to walk again; she is rebuilding her life, step by determined step, inspiring everyone around her with her courage and hope.
Written by Anish
Translated by Mindy Chen (陳敏理)
Source: 受創截肢重新站起 瑪雅達娃感恩上人超越上帝
