Kumari Magar, along with her husband Milan, faced numerous challenges in their quest to find a cure for their son, Kiran Thapa Magar, who was born blind in 2010. Coming from a remote village in Okhaldhunga District, Province 1 of Nepal, Kumari recalls a time when their community was conservative and inaccessible—no vehicles could reach their home.

After Kiran’s blindness was diagnosed shortly after birth, Kumari endured significant discrimination from both her family and community. Many blamed her, attributing Kiran’s condition to her past life sins. Hurtful remarks like, “What’s the use of having a blind son? You should stop breastfeeding him so he can die,” were all too common. In this patriarchal society, Kiran’s older sister, who could see, was favored, highlighting the deep-seated gender bias prevalent in Nepal and similar regions.

In 2015, after being referred from an eye hospital in Lahan to Tilganga Eye Hospital in Kathmandu, doctors informed Kumari and Milan that Kiran’s vision loss was permanent. However, they encouraged the couple to focus on Kiran’s education and development. He was then referred to the B.P. Eye Foundation’s Hospital for Children, Eyes, ENT, and Rehabilitation Services (CHEERS) in Bhaktapur.

While Kumari was initially disappointed that Kiran’s eyesight could not be restored, she found hope in the prospect of his education. At CHEERS, Kiran underwent comprehensive assessments to identify his medical and educational needs and was admitted to the Enabling Center for rehabilitation training.

Kumari was thrilled to learn that not only the children, but also family members, caregivers, and educators would receive training on supporting children with disabilities. This holistic approach included hands-on experiences, literature, and audiovisual materials tailored to Kiran’s needs. Despite criticism from her village, Kumari remained committed to Kiran’s rehabilitation.

Although she was offered to stay longer at the Center, Kumari chose to commute daily with Kiran while working various jobs to afford their living expenses. This decision allowed Kiran to adapt better to home life and maintain his connection with his family.

In the beginning, Kiran struggled to socialize and interact with others at the Center. However, as he participated in training focused on mobility, sensory skills, and speech therapy, he began to thrive. Within weeks, he learned essential daily living skills, and his confidence blossomed. Kumari was moved to tears witnessing her son’s progress and the support they received through psychosocial counseling.

Word of Kiran’s transformation spread back to their village, prompting one skeptical neighbor to visit CHEERS. Shocked by what he saw—Kiran interacting and learning—this neighbor and others began to reconsider their previous beliefs.

Kiran graduated from BPEF-CHEERS and enrolled in the Resource Class at Namuna Machhindra Secondary School in Lalitpur in 2016. This was made possible by a landmark policy change allowing children with visual impairments to attend school without delay.

However, there were challenges along the way. When Kiran struggled at a private hostel, Kumari took him out, concerned that he was too young for such independence. After reestablishing their bond, Kiran regained his skills, although he repeated a grade. Today, he is an average student studying in Class IV.

Thanks to projects supported by USAID and other donors, over 300 children with visual impairments have received training at BPEF-CHEERS, with 184 graduating and 134 currently enrolled in schools across Nepal.

Kumari now works at Bigmart, a popular supermarket in Kathmandu, proudly earning NPR 12,000 a month to support her family. Despite the odds, she continues to advocate for her son and others like him, embodying resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

Kiran dreams of becoming a radio jockey, alongside his earlier ambition to teach children with disabilities.

By Anuja Upadhyay