Shanti

I am going to share with you a letter that my French brother (adopted by Mum in his twenties) wrote - I have nothing to give but love and this blog to help him. This is not so much a request for money as it is for help - maybe you know of doctors or treatments. I met her husband last summer when he came to Alain's gallery to do workshops in his craft - he is enchanting and funny and a lover of life so if you have something to spare please help him remain a lover of life and a lover of his Shanti. Thank you.

Dear Friends

  

I am writing to let you know that whilst I was in Nepal a few weeks ago Shanti, the lovely wife

of our Nepalese Silversmith friend Krishna Sunar who produces most of the beautiful jewellery for our Galleries, has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Whilst still a dreadful life-threatening Cancer we were told that with the right type and amount of Chemotherap and Bone Marrow Transplant she would have an excellent chance of survival.

This was great news to hear after several days of anguish waiting for the tests results to come back from Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, India’s front line Cancer Research Hospital.

The horrible and cruel reality, as I expected it to be, is that unlike in the West when all we have

to worry about is the Doctors ability and the efficacy of the treatment (which to be frank is already difficult enough to bare) this survival is completely dependent on financing the treatment 100% and, to be quite frank, the minimum cost of £9000.00 sounded to the family like a death sentence.

Of course some of us are aware of how fortunate we are to have a National Health system and/or Medical Insurance to take charge of the “practical” side of saving Lives.

In countries like Nepal, however beautiful a place it is, there is nothing…you stand alone

with the information the doctors have given you about the real cost of someone’s Life.

You are left hopeless because for most people in Nepal, including our friend Krishna, the sum involved is astronomical and would completely bankrupt the family.

You might remember a similar situation I was fortunate to be in, the financing of the emergency Heart operation on Sanish, the 7 year’s old little boy of a dear friend in 2006 (I say fortunate because I am glad I was able to be there for them at the time. I am still working off the cost to date).

Today Sanish is happy and studying better that most children. I go and teach at the boarding he now goes to when I work in Nepal.

OK, I have to accept that I cannot save the world but I cannot turn my back on a friend

so I wired some money and we admitted Shanti to Rajiv Gandhi’s… but this time, I am unable

to do this alone. I am looking at ways to raise funds quickly to pay for the rest of her treatment.

I am not a registered Charity yet, although I think I will have to be. Part of the work I have been doing in Nepal since 1979 with people less fortunate than us is not going to stop.

We had already planned Fund Raising Events at the galleries for 2011, but this time funds are urgently needed if we want to see Krishna’s wife on her way to recovery.

This big World of ours sometimes has a way of showing itself as a small place.

Maybe you know of an organisation which could be of financial support, maybe you would

like to make a donation towards the treatment.

For this we will be eternally grateful.

                               

                             

                                 

                                             All my very best wishes

 Alain

Alain Rouveure Galleries

Todenham, Near Moreton in Marsh, GL56 9NU

www.AlainRouveure.com -Tel 01608 650 418 – alain@alainrouveure.com

Donations by cheque made payable to Alain Rouveure Nepal Relief Fund

For bank transfers or standing orders

Alain Rouveure Relief Fund - Lloyds Tsb 30 95 75 - account 22238668

IBAN GB43 LOYD 3095 7522 238 668 – BIC/SWIFT LOYDGB 21385