Nepalese man with facial tumour seeks life-changing treatment

By Kanika Dhupar @kanika_kd

A MAN with a facial tumour that covers more than half his face is seeking £30,000 to travel to the USA for life-changing surgery

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Videographer / director: Ranup Shrestha
Producer: Kanika Dhupar, Ellie Winstanley
Editor: Ian Phillips

Ashok is living with neurofibromatosis which has caused several benign tumours to grow on his face

Ashok Shrestha, 54, from Lalitpur in Kathmandu, Nepal, suffers from neurofibromatosis - a genetic condition that causes tumours to grow along the patient’s nerves.

The growths, while benign, are so severe that they eclipse the entire right hand side of his face, covering his right eye, nose and mouth.

The facial tumours grow along his nerves

He said: “Because the mass has grown this huge, I face great difficulty in eating and drinking.

"And it’s not just with eating and drinking but also while speaking. It is hard for other people to comprehend my speech because the tumour covers my lips."

Ashok has endured four failed surgeries to try and remove the tumours

After four failed surgeries, Ashok has received fresh hope in the form of an offer from Dr McKinnon at Presence Saint Josesh Hospital in Chicago, USA.

The treatment is going to cost £25,000, while Ashok also needs an additional £5,000 to cover his travel, medication and expenses during the treatment period.

Because the mass has grown so large Ashok struggles to eat and drink

And Ashok is being helped in his fundraising endeavours by British-based musician Kristina Allen, who is half-Nepalese and has set up a page on crowdfunding site GoFundMe to help Ashok reach his target.

She said: “We’d like to help Ashok get this treatment, and help him get proper medical aid, as soon as we can.

The tumour also makes it difficult for others to understand his speech as it covers his lips

"Together, even if it’s just one life, we can all make a difference.”

As a child Ashok’s face was largely blemish-free, but as he grew older large visible tumours began to erupt over his body.

An educated man, he worked for the government of Nepal and then started his own business in the education sector, but is now unemployed and struggling to survive.

Shrestha is now raising money to get treatment from Dr McKinnon at a Chicago hospital

Struggling to make ends meet, Ashok lives on his meagre savings and the positivity of his only friend, Ramesh Chaulagain.

Ramesh said: "People look at him in a very peculiar manner. He is very sad due to such reasons.

The treatment will cost £25,000 and Ashok requires an additional £5,000 to cover his other expenses

"He shares all these things with me. While walking with him I have seen that at many places people think he is very different and take pictures of him.”

While there is no direct cure for neurofibromatosis, Ashok has already raised more than £11,000 via his GoFundMe page, meaning surgery for his condition may finally be within reach.
He said: “If the treatment works then I could have a normal life like everyone else.

So far Ashok has raised more than £11,000 via his GoFundMe page

"It would be great and I would be very happy. More importantly, after the success of my treatment, I want to serve my society.
"Like the tumour I have on my face today, I want to help others with such a problem. I want to help those with financial need, do all that is possible from my side and serve them for the rest of my life."
To donate to Ashok’s campaign, visit https://www.gofundme.com/together4ashok, or follow the campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #together4ashok