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ATNI Photo Album Photos of Nima

Nima To Return to Tibet after Successful Surgery

For those who have been following Nima's story, he had surgery to stabilze his spine and has fully recovered. He has returned to his home in Eastern Tibet and is in good health and settling back in his homeland.

Harry Boling, ATNI volunteer who travelled with Nima, emailed back to Nima's school "Etched in my memory forever will be the sight of Nima standing beside the bus window in a pouring rain.... both of us with tears streaming down our faces. Please tell Nima I will always remember him and thank him for the bracelet he took from his own wrist and gave to me. Tell him Harry said to "set lofty goals and work with his goals in mind"

One of Nima's goals is to finish his education, become a doctor and help his people, a lofty goal indeed.

Our many thanks to all of you who helped make Nima's story a happy one.

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

Here is the story of just one of the children who have received a life-saving operation: Nyima Dondrup is a young boy in a remote area of eastern Tibet who suffered from advanced scoliosis, a condition where the spine corkscrews creating tremendous pain and, without intervention, death.  Nyima's lama asked us to help him since there is no possibility of the kind of advanced surgery he needs in his part of the world.

Nima has now gone through two operations and is doing quite well, living with his host family -- Jeff and Jackie Jung and children -- in Conifer, Colorado. He will undergo a final surgery later this year to remove rods from his back and then return to Tibet.

To all of you following Nima's journey: Thanks again to all of you who have donated money or volunteered time to Nima.

Nima is a delightful boy from Eastern Tibet. Nima is an orphan --his parents died when he was very young and he was raised by his grandmother and an older sister. He suffers from an unusually sever form of congenital scoliosis (a corkscrewing spinal condition). Without his scoliosis being operated on, he probably would not have lived more that a couple of years, as his spine is twisting down on his heart and lungs. Now, his prospects for a long, happy and productive life are great!

Rokpa International came across Nima and decided to put him in one of their medical schools in Yushu, Tibet. These wonderful schools take the most needy, but bright children and put them in these schools for an 8 year program. At their completion, these students go back to their villages and become village health practitioners. Nima had been studying there about 3 years, when the founder of Rokpa, Akong Rinpoche, found out that Nima's back was suddenly getting very bad. Akong Rinpoche contacted us to see if All Together Now International could help him. We agreed, and we proceeded with the long process of getting him out of Tibet, into this country and finding the medical help he needed here.

Since he arrive here, we have been busy with his medical needs. All the lab tests have come back negative for any serious secondary condition. The Boulder Medical community has been an wonderful help to this boy who has had little medical care in his life. Our thanks go, in particular, to the following Boulder practitioners, all of whom have contributed there time and resources to Nima:

• Dr. Jill Kamon did a physical, then gave him an antibiotic to address a lung infection, that has now cleared up. She also has started him on his required immunizations.
• Dr. Richard Nuzzi -chiropractic work.
• Penny Johnson- physical therapy.
• Wendy Raven- massages.
• Dr. Steve Koral is doing extensive dental care.
• Dr. Jack Roffis has examined Nima's eyes, which are fine.
• Dr. Elizabeth Shurnas has treated a variety of skin problems.
• Boulder Community Hospital has donated lab tests.
• Boulder County Health Department nurse, Mary Figoski expedited tests.
  

As for Nima's very twisted spine (80 degree curve), our immeasurable thanks goes to Dr. John Odom, one of the top spinal surgeons in the country who assembled a team of doctors and nurses to perform the operation and do follow up care in Aurora, Colorado. Aurora Regional Medical Center South agreed to donate the hospital services, operating facility and provide any necessary tests. Dr. Michael Canham is Nima's internist.

A special thanks, also, to Jamie Martin, who escorted Nima here all the way from Beijing, China.

Boulder's Fresh Produce Clothing has given Nima a smashing new 100% cotton wardrobe. Nima has never had new clothes before and is aglow in his new togs. He's holding on to a few of the clothes he came with as reminders of his home, as a lot is happening for him very quickly.

Mary Jo Noonan, an English as Second Language teacher with the Boulder Valley School System has tutored -Nima in English.

This is Nima's story as it stands. It is truly inspiring to see the outpouring of help for this boy. If any of you would like to be involved or know of others who would like to help, let me know - we can always use help.

The following is what we need for Nima , at this time:

• educational books in simple English, Chinese &English or Tibetan &English
• tutors in any subject- you can learn Tibetan or Chinese while you teach!
• art supplies
• monetary donations for Nima's needs, education and his flight back home.
• friends to do fun things with him, museums, concerts, movies, hikes.
• drivers to take him to his many doctors appointments.
• office help for phone and paper work.
• fundraising, public relations help so we can help other children

Thanks again for your interest and support!

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