Restoring Health in Malawi

Izeck creates a world of his own with bottle caps. He scatters them across the dusty floor and lets his imagination take over. He uses them to play games and build castles. At age 4, Izeck has learned how to play alone because a bowleg prevented him from doing so with other children. He especially missed playing football, which is very popular in Malawi. 

“It disturbed me when I saw my child fall down because of his bowleg,” said Izeck’s mother, Emma. “It pains me even more when I hear that people are saying bad things to my child.” 

In Malawi, disabilities and illnesses are often seen as a curse or a sign of God’s rejection. Boys and men are relied on for physical labour to support their families, which Emma knew her son would never be able to do.

Emma was desperate and took Izeck to the local traditional healers. But they couldn’t heal his leg and still made her pay a large sum of money. 

She felt darkness closing in and her hope was fading. She didn’t know where to turn for help—until she heard about a group of orthopaedic surgeons visiting Nkhoma Mission Hospital. 

“I was really down, but when I heard that my child could be healed at Nkhoma, I was lifted up and my faith grew,” she said.

Thankful to God

The World Medical Mission orthopaedic surgical team that Samaritan’s Purse sent to Nkhoma in Jesus’ Name was indeed able to help Izeck.

Dr. Greg Hellwarth, a surgeon who has served with World Medical Mission since 1993, performed a tibial and fibular osteotomy to correct Izeck’s bowleg.

“There were two deformities: the bowleg and the internally rotated foot,” he said. “Sometimes these are so severe that the foot is almost pointed backward, so we brought the foot around and corrected the bowleg.” 

A condition like Izeck’s would usually be treated sooner, but that wasn’t an option in Malawi where medical resources are limited. Without surgery, Izeck’s leg would have gradually worsened.

“Because the weight-bearing is all on the inside of the knee, Izeck would experience progressive deformity that would lead to arthritis,” Dr. Hellwarth said.

Emma overflowed with gratitude after her son’s successful surgery. “I am very thankful. When I came to the hospital, I was received very well. I knew I couldn’t afford much—but I didn’t expect the surgery to be free.” 

Emma has been a Christian for about a year. She was glad to receive a Bible at the hospital in the Chichewa language so that she can read God’s Word and grow in her faith. She said that her son’s surgery will always be a reminder of God’s faithfulness. “I am thankful to God for the things He has done,” she said.

A Brighter Future

Izeck was among 44 patients who received orthopaedic care during the two weeks our surgical team was at Nkhoma. Lucia also received life-changing surgery for a fractured kneecap. She fell about 13 feet and landed on the concrete floor of a latrine after it suddenly collapsed. 

She was in agonising pain and had no way to climb out. Thankfully, her husband finally heard her cries for help and managed to pull her from the pit. 

Though she lives more than 100 miles away, the mother of seven made the journey to Nkhoma because she was desperate for help. An ambulance transported her to the hospital because she could hardly walk. 

She was relieved to learn that our team was able to do the surgery and that she could expect a full recovery. 

“I am very excited,” she said. “After my accident, I couldn’t work in my garden. Now, I can go back to work and back to my family.”

Frank is another patient whose life was transformed after orthopaedic surgery. He suffered a broken arm during a car accident while on the way to the hospital to see his wife and newborn daughter. He was tossed to the road when a vehicle backed into his bicycle. 

Frank is a farmer and the only provider for his family. He was desperate to be able to work, but none of the local clinics had orthopaedic surgical resources. He endured six months of pain, frustration, and uncertainty before learning that the Samaritan’s Purse team was coming to Nkhoma. 

His sorrow turned to joy after meeting our team and having surgery.

“God has to be first before everything,” he said. “When I am discharged, I will continue praising Him for the good He has shown me.”