Help Me Walk the World Before I Can’t

My Name is Mahesh – and Time is Running Out
I’m 45 years old and from India. I was affected by polio when I was one year old, which resulted in permanent paralysis in my right lower limb. It has left me with a severe limp, an equinus deformity, and a significant difference in leg length. Despite these challenges, I have lived an active and independent life—walking on my own, without crutches or a wheelchair, for most of my life.

For years I worked as a hardware test engineer. In 2022 my condition worsened when arthritis developed in my right, polio-affected leg. It began in my right big toe and then progressed; by 2023 I had developed knee degeneration, hip arthritis, and cervical spondylosis, and I continue to suffer from these conditions. Despite spending everything I have on treatment, my mobility keeps declining. I have had to leave my job because I can no longer function in the lab. My savings are gone. My ability to walk—my only real independence—is nearly gone too.

What Doctors Are Telling Me Now

Doctors have told me that all the joints in my polio-affected leg are completely worn out. With no muscle power to support my bones, I experience excruciating pain every time I try to walk.

The only medical option left is a complex foot and ankle fusion surgery. But after this surgery, I will lose the ability to walk independently for the rest of my life. I will need to wear a full Hip-Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis (HKAFO) 24/7, as my leg will be shortened by 4–6 inches and remain completely powerless. This will drastically impact my daily activities and take away the limited freedom I still have.

I used to walk without any support—yes, with a limp, but on my own. After the surgery, I won’t be able to take a single step unassisted. That thought is terrifying.

Worse still, I cannot delay this surgery beyond two years, or I risk permanent fractures and damage that can no longer be treated.

My Lifelong Dream: To See the World While I Still Can

I’ve always had one big dream: to travel the world.  I dream of standing beneath the Northern Lights in Iceland, feeling the spray at Niagara Falls, walking through the snow in Switzerland, and visiting the Netherlands, France, the USA, Antarctica, and other beautiful countries around the world.

But I’ve never had the chance. I was always saving for "someday." Now that someday is almost gone.

Before surgery takes away my ability to walk, I want to use this time—this brief window—to experience the world on my own two feet. Even if I limp through every step, I want those steps to be mine.

Why I Need Your Help

I am now unable to work, live alone, and have exhausted all my savings on medical bills. I don’t have the means to fund this dream myself. But with your support, I can:

• Travel safely and accessibly to dream destinations
• Stay in safe, accessible accommodations
• Cover medical insurance, travel-related medical care, and essential mobility aids
• Capture these final free steps before they are gone

Every contribution helps — even small amounts make a real difference. Together, you can help me take these final steps on my own two feet and turn my lifelong dream into reality.

What You’ll Be Supporting

Your generosity will directly help me to:

• Visit dream destinations like Switzerland, Iceland, the Netherlands, France, the USA, Antarctica, and other beautiful countries around the world
• Book safe, accessible accommodation and transport
• Pay for travel medical insurance and necessary equipment
• Hire help during travel when I need assistance

In return, I’ll share digital postcards, short video updates, and travel stories so you can follow the journey you helped make possible.

A Step Before the Silence

Every step I take now is painful — but priceless. Soon, I may not have any left. This journey is my chance to walk freely one last time and to live these years with purpose and joy.

If you believe in second chances, please consider supporting me. Even a small donation or sharing my story can make a huge difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thanks,
Mahesh