Wow. What can I say? What words can describe how I feel about this?

Never ever would I have thought that we would end up with something like the HISS 2025 when we started. The NSA and Nepal really have outdone themselves. I’m still in awe and so impressed of the last days.

Back in 2020, Chrissi and I formed the basic idea of “contributing to improve stroke care” in Nepal. 

Out of a rough idea emerged a strategy and a vision. But I could not have imagined how big and how remarkable it would become.

If you had told me back then that one day there would be a project with the Nepal Stroke Association of THIS size, filling a stroke conference at a truly world-class international level, I would have considered it an almost unimaginable vision.

„Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in five years.“

But now here we are. I’m back in Germany after 6 days in Nepal and getting goosebumps while writing these lines. So what exactly happened?

Well, the NSA organized and held the **Himalayan International Stroke Summit**, the first big stroke conference in Nepal. And they delivered a banger! 

Over 500 attendees, a “Crème de la Crème” lineup of national and international speakers, Nepal’s governmental representation including the health minister, a tight program of interesting talks, a venue to die for, amazing food, and great sponsors, but most of all:

A feeling of momentum, a sense of awakening, change and proud – a feeling that something new and important is happening here – something you just won’t find at other conferences. 

And what’s really important: This was a true Nepali achievement. The German part of the Nepal Stroke Project was there as a guest. We were invited as a partner to celebrate how far we got. Thank you very much for that!

A special thanks goes to Rachana and Abhishek! What Dr. Rachana Nakarmi and Dr. Abhishek Man Shrestha as the masterminds behind this event did with their awesome team of helpers and volunteers is really astounding. Reading the Whatsapp group for the organization, I have to admit that I often thought that the plans were a little bit too ambitious. But they pulled it off and even put icing on the cake – hats off to you guys!

For the project, the most important moment was probably the visit and speech of Nepal’s Health Minister Pradip Paudel and the release of the official Stroke Guidelines for Nepal.

But for me personally, it was of course when my wife Chrissi, or “Dr. Christine” as she’s being called in Nepal, the driving force behind the Nepal Stroke Project, stepped on the stage with Jessica and started inviting all members one by one to the stage.

Avinash, Pankaj, Babu Ram, Bikram, Ashim, Balgopal, Pradesh, Bhupendra, Navin, Mahesh, Khechar, Ram, Sulochana, Rachana, Abhishek, Nooma, NSA President Raju and the birthday kid and NSA Founder Lenkung. They were all there. The whole crew that worked years to make this event what it was. 

It was an honor for me to work with you and celebrate this moment.

Thank you so much and let’s see where the next five years will lead us.

     -Patrick-