The Boy in Bed 435

Almost five and a half years ago, late in the Monsoon of 2004, I had the pleasure of meeting with Arjun Mahat for the first time. I have to be honest here and admit that I don’t remember the exact date, or even what day of the week it was, but the one thing that I will never forget is the beautiful smile he shared with me that morning when we first met in the Cardiology ward at Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu.

Arjun on the day I first met him at Kanti Children's Hospital in 2004

It was only a few months after I had moved to Nepal to begin the work of just-one, when I was approached by David Cotran, an American medical student doing his internship at the hospital, who had heard of the fledgling work I was involved in and enquired as to whether or not I might be able to offer some much needed help to a young patient he had come to know during his time at the hospital.

Under the benevolent care of Dr. Narayan Basnet, one of the hospital’s top paediatric cardiologists, twelve year old Arjun had received the months of treatment required for his serious heart condition and was well enough to be discharged. The tragic death of his father a few years previously though, and the subsequent disappearance of his mother, left the young Mr. Mahat with no relatives to whom he wanted to be released to the care of – a fact which left hospital administration with a problem that they needed help to solve.

Making our first departure from children of purely street or working backgrounds, just-one was extremely pleased to be able to help this remarkably brave boy have the happy childhood that he so rightly deserved. With the incredibly generous support of the Poudel family in Pokhara, close Nepali friends of mine who ran Peace-Eye Guesthouse in Lakeside, Arjun found himself a new home and thrived on the new-found love and support he received there.

In early Spring of 2005, following unexpected complications with his heart condition, Arjun received the life-saving intervention of Dr. Rajip Rajbhandari at Shahid Gangalal Heart Centre in Kathmandu and, with a successfully widened mitral valve, was given a whole new lease of life. The kind assistance of his paternal grandfather and uncles, who we had luckily located to sign the required medical consent forms, allowed us to provide Arjun the post-operation gift of finally being re-united with his little sister, Yashoda, whom he had spoken of so dearly from the very first morning I met him.

Smiling his beautiful smile, Arjun returned in triumph to Pokhara and set about introducing Yashoda to the new life of happiness and security he managed to create for himself and caringly invited her to share in with him. Over the years that followed, both Arjun and Yashoda blossomed and grew – becoming important and much loved members of the community whose collective heart was captured by these two beautiful children. Sadly though, this story doesn’t have the happy ending that anyone to have ever encountered either of them would have hoped for…

One week ago today, in the early morning of Tuesday, December 8^th 2009, Arjun quietly passed away, following a final three-day battle with his illness which he bravely fought with the expert assistance of the staff at Manipal Teaching Hospital in Pokhara. The boy with a broken heart has left his worries behind and in his wake countless broken hearts now suffer the grief-filled sorrow of his unexpected and early passing. The happy-ever-after ending that seemed so firmly in his grasp is now, sadly, forever altered and never to be written.

While Yashoda mourns the sad loss of her older brother, his adopted family has lost a much-loved member; his teachers at Tal Barahi School – a hard-working student; his school-mates there – a loyal friend; the local Scout Master – his right-hand man; his scout troop – their charming leader; the medical community – a loveable patient; the just-one family – an inspirational young man; his kinsfolk – a little-known yet truly remarkable son. So many who had the fortunate privilege of being part of Arjun’s short life must now mourn his sudden passing, but can take comfort in the countless beautiful memories that he has kindly left with each of us. Though raw and painful now, let’s hope these memories, with time, will become as happy as his smile once was.

Please, smile a beautiful smile in memory of a beautiful young man – Arjun.

3 Responses to “The Boy in Bed 435”

• Shirley Gutwerg
  December 16th, 2009 14:58
  1

  I first met Arjun on April 2005 and once in a while we spoke via messanger, I am amazed with the shock, I loved Arjun from the moment i saw the light in his eyes and his gorgeous smile. I cooked with him, and I was mainly watching him cause even though i am a good cook, he was much better ( :, I saw him a few time more invited by him to a school ceremony and enjoyed watching funny cartoons with him and beautiful Yashoda, his laughter and strong character will aalways be in my heart and mind.

  Love you so Much sweet Arjun
  My heart cries that I saw you last on 2007, It surely feels longer now.
  love you
  so so much
  Shirley Didi as you always called me

• Jessamine
  January 20th, 2010 07:40
  2

  This is very sad. Arjun was a great kid and has a lovely soul. Let’s all send love to Yashoda. Please let me know if she needs anything.

• hazel
  October 1st, 2011 22:20
  3

  m working late in my office..sittin here reading this..its strange but i just noticed after they rolled down and i gasped that my eyes were filled with tears…the word SAD isnt enough

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