“13 years ago, my husband fell from the seventh floor of a building while installing a water tank. He sustained injury in the spinal cord and was wheelchair bound. With no one in the family with a steady income, our family became helpless. Fortunately, I was offered a job at the Spinal Injury rehabilitation Centre as a housekeeper. Life became a bit easier, both my sons were going to school and I was able to take care of my husband. When I children grew up they left never to return. And for all these years, I have been the sole breadwinner of the family. I had my problems, with work, finances but I always put on a smile in my face. I worked hard, never shed a tear, never revealed my pain. But that was not all. When the earthquake hit in 2015 my house was completely destroyed. There was no support from anywhere. No family members came forward and the government did not show mercy. Even till today, I and my husband live in a tent. But I did not lose hope, I somehow felt that someday a miracle will happen. Sometimes, I dream of a small house where I and my husband can live. But this was not enough; fate has something else planned for me. In June 2016, I was diagnosed with Gall bladder cancer. With some support from my employer and friends I got treatment. I was operated 3 times. I have lost 20 kilos in the last year. I am still living. But I have become weak and I am unable to work and carry on my duty at the centre. I had no other option than to leave my job, the only paying thing in my life. It felt like my life had come full circle to 14 years ago when my husband fell from the building but it was far worse. Today, both of us are rendered incapable of earning a living. Today, I wander hopelessly around the tent and watch the desperation in my husbands eye. I go to the corner and cry and pray to god to end all my sorrows. I do not have the strength anymore.” (Bishnu Devi Byanju, Suryabinayak. Bhaktapur)