Durga Returns to Nepal 25 Years Later With Her Baby and Olga

Our inspiring founder Olga Murray still travels to Nepal every fall at age 93. This fall, her return to Kathmandu for the holidays was extra special because she went with Durga – the eight year old she brought to the US in 1993.

Days before their departure, Durga was interviewed by ABC News and shared her perspective on returning to Nepal after 25 years:

As an infant, Durga had rolled into a fire and suffered very serious facial burns. Her family invested everything they had — even her mother’s dowry jewelry — into Durga’s medical treatment following the terrible accident, but in Nepal the options for reconstructive surgery were extremely limited. Durga’s life changed dramatically when Olga arranged for a consultation with plastic surgeons in California.

Some of you may remember Durga as “Anjita” in Olga’s Promise (see excerpt below): her bravery facing repeated surgeries, her early life with dear NYF friends Joanne and Tot Heffelfinger, who raised her as their own – and her evolution from a tiny 35 pound firebrand with no English and totally unfamiliar with western life – to the smart, warm-hearted, charming young woman she is today.

Durga and her husband Scott married three years ago in Marin County, California with Olga as their officiant.  She walked down the aisle with her father who traveled all the way from Nepal. On Durga’s other arm was Dr. Angelo Capozzi who performed all 30 of the surgeries on her face. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Last April, Durga gave birth to an adorable little boy.  With the wonders of technology, she’s remained very close with her large Nepali family and was eager for them to meet her son, and to give and get Dashain blessings. It was a grueling trip – 15 hours to Hong Kong, and then a 12 hour layover before the six hour flight to Kathmandu. Durga and Olga were exhausted, but the considerate baby slept most of the way.

After Dashain, they also joyously celebrated the little boy’s “rice feeding ceremony,” the time a child first eats solid food – usually a couple grains of rice.  It was a very festive occasion, with a healthy contingent of Durga’s relatives in attendance.

The special satisfaction of the long-term impact of NYF’s work makes us all even more grateful to all of you – the NYF family of supporters. Your generosity makes all of our work possible.

Excerpt of “Anjita’s” story in Olga’s Promise:

Winter Newsletter Bonus Content

If you received our Winter Newsletter and are curious to read more, please click on any of the links or pictures below:

Durga (“Anjita”) Returns to Nepal

If you’ve read Olga’s Promise, you may remember “Anjita” who rolled into a fire as an infant and suffered serious facial burns. Olga brought her to the US in 1993 for surgery unavailable in Nepal.

25 years later, married and with a new baby, she returned to Nepal with Olga to introduce her son to her family.

Click here for more.

Celebrating 20 Years of Saving Lives

In 1998, we opened the first Nutritional Rehabilitation Home (NRH) in Nepal to restore severely malnourished children to health after they were prematurely discharged from government hospitals.

Twenty years later, lifesaving treatment continues at 17 NRHs across Nepal built by generous friends like you.

Click to see more near-miraculous transformations of babies like Tara.

Seniors Only!

If you are 70 ½ or older, you can make a direct transfer of IRA balances to a charity like Nepal Youth Foundation to satisfy some or all of your Required Minimum Distribution.

Olga’s Promise: One Woman’s Commitment to the Children of Nepal 

To read more stories like Durga’s (Anjita); the beginning of our nutrition program that is succeeding on a national scale in partnership with the Nepali government; the early days of NYF’s Kamlari rescue program, and so much more; check out Olga’s book – Olga’s Promise: One Woman’s Commitment to the Children of Nepal.

Available here.

Celebrating 20 Years of Saving Lives

At 22 months “Tara” was among the first children to receive lifesaving treatment at a Nutrition Rehabilitation Home (NRH). Before 1998, malnutrition may have ended her life. Thankfully, timely support like yours helped restore Tara’s health and taught her mother how to keep their family well-nourished.

With continued help from people around the world, we’ve built 17 NRHs where more than 20,000 children like Tara have received a second chance. Malnutrition can be remarkably simple to address in Nepal with treatment and education using local foods. Just $350 (less than $1 a day) can save a child’s life in 3 weeks.

In 20 years, NYF has built 17 NRHs, successfully transitioning 15 of them to the Nepali government after 5 years of operations. Our first flagship Kathmandu NRH remains our permanent treatment, training, and monitoring center, and NRH-17 is in its 2nd year.

It is the generosity you share that makes it all possible. Dhanyabad!