Khagendra Rana spent years being rejected by everyone; now he makes sure others aren’t

Born in the rural village of Laljhadi in Kanchanpur, 27-year-old Khagendra Rana has been battling life’s harshest realities since childhood. He suffers from congenital muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that progressively weakens the muscles, causes the nerves in his legs to wither, and severely restricts his mobility.

While a typical child begins walking by 9 or 10 months, Rana could not take his first steps even at a year and a half old. It was only then that his family took him to a hospital, where his genetic condition was diagnosed. The disease is incurable, requiring lifelong medication and regular physiotherapy. His medical expenses average around NPR 1,500 to 2,000 per month. The moment he misses his medication, his muscles stiffen up, making even sitting or standing nearly impossible.