The Dream Team at JRM Foundation’s 2016 #HikeForHumanity in Nepal

Dr. Fahim Rahim

The vision, drive and energy behind the JRM Foundation. Fahim is an honorary Nepali with more friends here than probably anyone else. If he ran for public office here, he’d have a serious shot at winning. I struggle to find the words to describe the scope of what he’s accomplished in Nepal through ingenuity, creativity, hard work and collaboration. He led the largest private American relief mission in post-earthquake Nepal and made a HUGE difference. Despite seemingly insurmountable challenges, Fahim brought critical disaster relief supplies to the remote areas of Nepal that no other organization even tried to reach. If it sounds as though i’m speaking too highly of his skills and accomplishments — I assure you, I am not. While he’s working in a medical camp, his game face is on and will give you the stare of death if you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing. Whether he’s working as a medical professional or talking to villagers in the community — Fahim remains humble and so very kind to everyone he comes across!

“The people don’t want a hand out, they want to be given a hand up.”

Dr. Ehsun Mirza

Ehsun is an ICU Doctor and Nephrologist. He’s a badass photographer and also an excellent painter — oil and pastels. Oh and a certified yoga teacher! I love how he describes complex science concepts in simple english with real-world examples and applications. His weakness is camera lenses! He admits “I have G.A.S. — Gear Acquisition Syndrome.” In Yangri village while Laila, Ehsun and I were conducting health surveys, due to the Nepali-Hindi-English language barrier, Dr. Mirza accidentally assumed a woman was pregnant. It led to chuckles across the room.

“Unless you have proper nutrition and good public health, there is no education.” -Ehsun talking to nurses and young investigators prior to a medical camp at Mahendra Gyan School in Bhaktapur

Dr. Will Stinger

OBG-YN at Portneuf Hospital. Boy scout. Very handy — he built the engine on his truck and car. I can’t even find the engine in my car, and he built one by himself. Will is a self-proclaimed addict to buying biking and skiing equipment. He’s a competitive biker — super competitive. The Strava app lets him see how well he’s biking compared to hundreds of other — and that drives him to push harder and harder until he’s keeping up or leading the front of the pack.

“I’ll try anything once.” -But he’s never had a drink, taken drugs or laughed at any of my jokes.

Chief Operating Officer Gokul Thapa

If it wasn’t for Gokul dai, none of us would get anything done. The #HikeForHumanity project is Nepal would be like a ship taking on water. Gokul dai makes sure all the “i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed.”

“No problem.” -Whenever you ask for his help.

Nurse Kara

Total rockstar. Compassionate. Very optimistic. Very inquisitive. If Kara ever has a question, she asks it right away. If she’s ever curious about a group of people, she’ll walk right up to them and greet them with her smile. We often found Kara in the fields in Manekharka talking to a bunch of women working in the farms — smiling, talking and taking their photographs. She never let a little English-Nepali language barrier stop her from communicating with anyone. She’s a real gem.

“Is that air hockey?” pointing at a carrom board. I had never realized that both the sports are so similar. :)

Nurse Kelsey

Slightly mysterious. Ridiculously photogenic. Super nice. Much more soft-spoken than you think. She has wicked dance moves and has taken belly dance lessons for three years. Always wanted to be a nurse since she was nine. She’s travelled to 11 countries. Oh, by the way, she’s a post-op nurse — which means that she’s the first person patients often see when they’re coming out of the effects of anesthesia.

“You’re so beautiful, but I’m married.” -Patients say to her.

Flight Nurse Krystal

Krystal is an In-Flight Nurse with AirMethod and is based at Portneuf Hospital in Pocatello. She saves people in distress deep in the wilderness. When she gets the emergency signal, she swoops into the air with her Air Rescue team armed with night vision. Self-inflected gun shot wounds? Horse-riding accidents? Injured mountain bikers? Krystal’s got your back. She’s an exceptional nurse — while I was lying in the bed at Manekharka Health Clinic, she supervised Fatima insert an IV fluid line in my hand.

“I’m not sure if I should ask, but was Kung Fu Panda shot here?” -Krystal at Swayambhunath Temple. This question really broke the ice and remained a recurring joke for the entire week.

Occupational Therapist Julia

Hilarious. US Army veteran who served in Kuwait. “She climbs mountains like a crazy woman” said Kelsey. Born in Germany. She’s traveled to 18 countries — but neither Canada nor Mexico! She has two cats and 5 guns in her house. She hates the taste and smell of fake cinnamon. She’d like to write a book.

“You can’t get in the way of Idahoans and their potatoes” -as the entire JRM team stormed the food tent when our chef brought in several plates of fried potatoes.

The First Lady Beena Rahim

Fahim says: “Whatever I do, she lets me do it. My strength comes from her. I can be the most courageous person in a disaster zone, because my strength is her. ❤” and “But if she doesn’t get 2 fried eggs and toast in the morning, I’m toast.”
Little known fact — she’s a solid Hip-Hop and R&B dancer. She is a huge fan of Usher. She “hates” Fahim for meeting Usher at his Hard II Love album launch party in Vegas, when she was briefly somewhere else in the club. She’s very giving, very funny and really makes sure everyone around her is doing well.

“Oye allu aagaye!” with a huge smile at Yangri.

Young Investigator Raayan

The Stargazer — Rayaan spent hours staring at the starry sky in Yangri village with the smoky milky way galaxy directly above us visible to the naked eye. “I’ve never seen so many stars in my life,” he said, in between his many “wow”s as he looked up to the skies without the usual light pollution around us. Raayan is a rockstar — his fundraising efforts over the last couple months meant an additional family here in Yangri is getting a house this week.

“There’s so much out there, our lives and problems seem so small in comparison.” -while stargazing in Yangri on a clear night.

Young Investigator Fatima

Is it too early to start calling Fatima a doctor? Although Fatima is still a student at Stanford International High School, she can handle many aspects of a doctor’s life already. She did a remarkable job registering patients in our Bhaktapur medical camp, performed health surveys in Yangri, but most importantly she inserted her first IV fluid line in my right hand. And guess what? She picked up $1,100 Yeezy’s in Manekharka for only 1,100 Nepali Rupees.

“I saved your life.” — #humblebrag

Young Investigator Alina

This ever-happy young investigator spread happiness wherever she went. She and her trusted camera captured the beauty of the playful monkeys at Swayambhunath Temple, the children at the various villages we visited, and all the activities of the JRM Foundation. After Fatima and Laila successfully inserted IV fluids into two patients, she was hoping to get the chance to try her hand at one patient too.

“I don’t know what type of surgeon I want to be yet, but we should open a practice together.” -Alina to Fatima

Young Investigator Hasan Rahim

This khukuri yielding bundle of energy was the youngest investigator on the team. But age is no barrier for this dude — he confidently speaks up whenever he wants, inquisitively asks questions, and throws the occasional dab. Rumor has it that Hasan will spend next summer in a student exchange program at Mahendra Gyan School in Bhaktapur. :)

“Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.” -Hasan trying to wake me up on one of my many #NapsForHumanity

Young Investigator Isabella

Wherever we went on this trip, the local kids loved Bella. I remember one time when Bella was working on her homework in the corner of our campsite in Manekharka overlooking the gorgeous mountains all around us, and about 8 children slowly gathered around Bella. She showed them how to type on her Macbook Air and then they started typing away their own names. It was a beautiful moment!

“My earliest memory is when I was a 1 year old,” Bella on her excellent memory.

Young Investigator Laila

Laila is a powerful and compassionate force in the universe. She’s disciplined, focused and environmentally aware. Did you know that because of her fundraising efforts over the last couple months, an additional family is getting a house here in Yangri this week? Laila cares about our environment more than most people. She loved her AP Environmental Science course last year and can talk about climate change, air pollution and other issues like a pro!

“Abba, there’s a rattlesnake!” -as she rushed away from a pipe spraying water in a field in Manekharka.