Upon learning of the rider’s predic-
ament, a family member immediately
commenced the process to organise
their way to Pokhara, where things
went from worse to unfathomable;
drama created by individuals and the
events taking place took it to another
level, perhaps that’s for another time.
Eventually getting to speak to the
rider as he came to, I was informed
of what had actually taken place. Due
to the damage on the lungs, two tubes
had been inserted to relieve the pres-
sure, and to drain both air and fluid,
where his condition thankfully stabi-
lised. Time was now the only factor
for him to heal before the tubes were
removed and he be released from ICU.
Quite a few days later.
I quickly learnt that ICU in Nepal,
well in Pokhara in particular, is quite
a different story to ICU in Australia.
To receive medication, food, water
or any other type of supplies needed
for treatment, you physically need to
have someone waiting outside with
cash money to pay. So, with the guid-
ance of the rep an account was creat-
ed with the pharmacy, where I depos-
ited a substantial amount of funds in
TRAVERSE 80
aid to help the rider.
It was explained that a nurse will
call out the patient’s name in the wait-
ing area, where whomever is looking
after that patient, must make them-
selves known. The nurse will give you
basically a shopping list, where you
then must collect everything that is
required on that list and return to de-
liver the items back to ICU. Even basic
necessities like toilet paper are includ-
ed on that list.
Now, if no one is there to collect that
list, or to pay and collect what is re-
quired, then the patient won’t get any