Buried but Not Broken: Niki’s Journey from Tragedy to Triumph

During the monsoon season, disaster struck. A landslide buried the small hut where three-year-old Niki lived with her family. She had been lying near the fire with her grandfather when the earth gave way. Hours later, rescuers pulled her from the rubble—alive, but with severe burns on her legs. Her beloved grandfather did not survive.

Niki was rushed to Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital (SKMH), a journey that took several hours. By the time she arrived, her condition was critical. The burns were deep and extensive, and her tiny body was in shock. Over the following months, she underwent numerous dressing changes, many under anesthesia, to manage the pain and prevent infection.

She and her mother remained at SKMH for nearly a year. It was a long and difficult road, but Niki’s spirit never wavered—and neither did the dedication of the medical team.

When it became clear that her leg was at risk of amputation, a groundbreaking microsurgical procedure was performed. Under the leadership of Clinic Director Prof. Mischkowski and Nepalese surgeon Santosh Bhandari, a complex transplantation of skin, muscle, and bone tissue from her shoulder blade to her lower leg was carried out. The surgery was a success. Niki’s leg—and her ability to walk—were saved.

Two years later, in November 2024, the team returned to visit her. What they saw was nothing short of joyful: Niki, now five, was laughing and bouncing on a trampoline, her legs strong beneath her. That trampoline had been funded by generous donors—people who believed in giving children like Niki a second chance.

Her story is a testament to resilience, expert care, and the power of compassion. At SKMH, children from across Nepal receive life-saving treatment regardless of their family’s financial situation. And thanks to the support of organizations like Interplast Germany e.V., Nepalese doctors are trained in advanced surgical techniques that make miracles like Niki’s possible.