Unexpectedly, we were met by the entire hospital staff in the conference room, and they held a kind of ceremony where Dr. Pant gave a speech and we were greeted with flowers, food and sweet tea.
I also said a few words, explaining how the container was filled and on its way to Kathmandu now, and how Victoria's story - and thereby, the awareness of the hospitals - had spread all over Denmark, UK, Ireland, Germany etc., and then we handed over the money and there was a group photo.
Maya was there, too, in a beautiful sari and wearing the bangles I had given her as a departure gift last time.
When she handed me Victoria's left items - her 2 pink bodies and the string of colored wooden elephants that she used to play with - we were both in tears.
After all, nothing of all this will ever bring our little girl back, we can only hope to diminish the suffering of other children in the future.
After Annapurna, we went to Paropakar and a similar "handover" ceremony; in Dr. Lata's office, we gave the cheque and discussed the utilisation of money and equipment. We had tea and cake and received flowers and a buddhist temple model in a glass case.
Back at the hotel, I smelled Victoria's little bodystockings - they still have a slight scent of her, but mostly of hospital.
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