Pokhara's premier paragliding paraplegic

On Sunday, April 27, Sita became the first paraplegic in Nepal to paraglide. This event put her, and Green Pastures Hospital on the front page of the Himalaya Times, a national English newspaper, among other things. It was a big deal. The fact that I also went paragliding for my first time, was less exciting for Nepal in general, but quite exciting for me!

I didn't realize before I came, but due to the air currents above the lake and hills nearby, Pokhara is a world renown place to paraglide. It's a common tourist activity, and both Christina and I were interested in trying it out. When we were talking about it in the OT department at lunch, Christina asked Sita if she would like to try. She very much wanted to, but hadn't really thought it possible for her, a paraplegic, to go. Christina and were both sure that it was done in back home, and Christina decided to see if we could make it happen for her.

The first response from the Nepali managers of all the organizations was a definite 'No, not possible'. One thing you learn in Nepal though, is that there may be a way round a 'no' if you are persistent enough. Many of the pilots who take people up are ex-pats, and Christina and I met with one of them who said that it was definitely possible for Sita to fly. With the pilots on our side, it was only a matter of time before it was all organized, and the news started to get around that this was going to happen.

We had a photographer from INF, as well as several newspapers, patients and staff from the hospital, and many of Sita's friends around to witness her paragliding. Unfortunately, on the day we went, Christina was down with a stomach bug, and after all her work towards it, was unable to paraglide with us. Ruth, a visiting med student, came instead. We all piled in the truck with our pilots and paragliding 'wings', and drove up to the top of Sarankot where we took off.

Taking off involves both you and your pilot running off the edge of a steep hill, as your paragliding wing fills with air and takes off like a kite. Sita was carried by several other pilots during the take off and landing, but otherwise didn't need any help. It was a but nerve wracking to run towards a steep drop and then off the edge, but once aloft, it was an amazing experience. We circled upwards on the thermals (this made me feel a bit queasy) and soon were soaring above the lake, the hillside, and circling hawks. We were up for nearly an hour, and then landed to much fanfare, to all the waiting people below.

Sita was a hero, and there were smiles, tears, garlands and speeches to commemorate it all. The paraplegic patients were particularly inspired by Sita's achievement, and all gave her flowers. Sita was carried back to her wheelchair by her good looking pilot (Ruth commented that for a moment she wished her legs didn't work too, so she also could be carried), and then we all gathered at the side of the road for more pictures and congratulations. What a great day. A selection of the pictures can be seen here. The ones taken from the air are mine, since I had such a unique perspective on Sita's flight.