Kathmandu, Aug 4 (IANS) A young Nepalese woman who lost a leg when she was just eight but did not let that deter her from her passion for dance has got a new lease of life thanks to the efforts of some Israelis here.
When Roma Neupane, 22, from Itahari in Sunsari district in the country's southeast, lost her left leg in a car accident, she did not get bogged down by her disability and continued to dance - on one leg.
The diminutive Roma, who uses a walking stick, also took part in cultural shows. At one such cultural programme on New Year's eve, Roma caught the eye of Nepalese actress Jal Shah.
Jal was moved by the sight of the valiant Roma dancing on one leg and approached Israel's ambassador to Nepal Dan Ben-Eliezer for help.
An equally moved Ben-Eliezer took Roma's case to Prof Eli Isakov, head of orthopaedic rehabilitation at Israel's Loewenstein Hospital, who happened to be trekking in Nepal.
The doctor along with the Israel-Nepal Friendship Association managed to arrange for Roma's treatment.
The gritty dancer, who could not study beyond school due to lack of funds, will leave for Israel next month to be fitted with an artificial leg. The treatment that costs over $4,000 will be funded through donations collected by Prof Isakov.
"Her quality of life will improve significantly after the treatment," the doctor told the media.
An overwhelmed Roma said: "Nobody helped me when I was disabled. I couldn't get any job and took up dancing. I am grateful to the Israel Embassy."
--Indo-Asian News Service
