It was February 2014, and longtime Tempe insurance agent Mary Contreras had embarked on what she remembers as the trip of a lifetime. Joined by 11 other Valley businesswomen, Contreras had been transported into a world of ancient ritual, unqualified friendship and almost indescribable beauty. It was an experience that unfolded the moment the group’s plane landed in the Nepalese capital of Katmandu and did not end until they headed back home two weeks later. Now, having spent days concerned over the fate of her newfound acquaintances whose lives recently were disrupted by a tragedy of historic proportions, Contreras finally was able to learn, happily, that most of those friends survived. One, a Nepalese matriarch who has led Nepal’s campaign to help women pursue business opportunities in a land stuck in an oppressive past, was in Boston for medical care when the earthquake hit, taking thousands of lives and destroying centuries-old landmarks and places of worship. Another, the woman’s son, also survived and, as soon as communications were restored, emailed the Valley women and others to report he was safe.
“This is typical of the way these people feel and think,” said Contreras, noting that their combined kindness and generosity cannot be rivaled in any other part of the world she has visited. “When you arrive in the country, they greet you with a prayer, a sign of deep reverence and respect. It’s really an inspirational experience,” said Contreras. As the people now try to dig their way out of rubble, Contreras laments the fact that some of the country’s most historic shrines have been destroyed or wrecked.
In Durbar Square, home to one of the temples that Contreras remembers as a gathering place for children, is now severely damaged, upsetting not only a thousand years of history but its role as a modern-day gathering place for youngsters to remember and revere their forebears. “These are kind, wonderful, giving people whose goal is to bring goodness to the world,” Contreras said. “Now, at least until they recover, these efforts have had to be put on hold.” On April 27, Contreras received another email update from one of the community leaders she met in Katmandu, Dr. Sanduk Ruit, an ophthalmologist who temporarily set aside his everyday eye practice to provide general medical care for the multitude of injured. Excerpts follow from the latest email received from Katmandu: “All of our HCP team are safe, but several have lost their homes. Many acquaintances have died. Sanduk said strong aftershocks are continuing. Many of the outlying communities and villages are completely destroyed.
Power, water and transportation are devastated. Tilganga Eye Hospital is working around the clock treating patients with eye trauma and also other injuries. The Himalayan Cataract Project will be helping fund direct relief and free treatment for trauma victims with a special account. There will be no administrative overhead and Dr. Ruit will coordinate in Nepal. Here is an earlier report from Ruit: “This is one of the worst natural disasters in my lifetime. A major 7.8 Richter-scale earthquake struck 24 hours ago, followed by more than 100 aftershocks and one earthquake measuring 6.9 Richter scale some time ago.
The scale of human casualty will be more than 2,500. But there will be thousands left homeless in many parts of Nepal where life is much more difficult. “For these families, to tune up to normalcy will take a very long time. The most affected areas has been the areas where Tilganga is most active, and we understand the locality very well. There are very hearty and generous messages from friends all over the world, who want to be helpful. “I think it will be good for Tilganga to spearhead an effective platform to help the country and its beautiful people with the support from all our friends around the world.
Presently, everything is going at a warpath pace, and the country is in state of emergency. All efforts have been launched to save and retrieve people from the wreckage, hoping they will live and be given medical treatment. “The state seems to be coordinating all the acute relief quite well in spite of all the constraints. The second phase will be to give a longer treatment to some of the casualties and provide immediate relief to the ones without shelter. “It is really a tragic part that we have been left with total or semi damaged cultural heritages mostly in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
The restoration of these will be a long haul for the state. The longer term relief would be to rehabilitate the homeless, mentally struck inhabitants of some remote areas. I would appeal to all our friends around the world who have loved our work and loved this country and its people. “We are quite happy to build a strong, effective platform to coordinate this in a small way. Again, many thanks from the heart for the compassion you have shown in such an unforeseen moment.”
