The Week in Photos: Better together

The sisters Abebech (on mother’s lap) and Yetachu were sent home this week, but not before they gave us their sweet silly faces to remember until their return!

Dinkalem came back for another procedure and was happy to have his stuffed animal waiting for him!

We were pleased to see Ezera using the flash cards and practicing his math skills!

Yonas came to us this week to start his healing for his deformed feet after having hydrocephalus surgery, and he was happy to show his admiration for his caretaker! It’s nice to see this brave child so happy!

Daudi meets Sharon at her bedside to play with bubbles.

A visitor from the U.S. plays with Sharon, a spine patient who is on bedrest.

A mother in the ward teaches Elena, our CUREkids Coordinator how to knit—with pick up sticks!

Beverly, a volunteer from Canada, shows these ladies how to knit a scarf .

Beverly and Lydia share their knitting styles with each other—ward bonding!

Phoebe has an in-depth conversation with a mother in the ward and they share some smiles.

This kiddo joins in on the ward fun and looks awesome while doing it!

Ekari comes in once a week for physiotherapy and we always love seeing him… and sometimes tickling him!

Allan finally has bare, clean feet, sans casts! It’s been several months since they’ve last been like that! Allan doesn’t speak Chichewa, but fortunately the word for “prayer” is similar in both Yao and Chichewa, so Thandy was able to communicate that people were praying for him with the bit of Chichewa that Allan has picked up!

Thandy reads Esther some get well messages!

Promise is such a ham! He’s so good natured about all this time he’s had to spend in the hospital.

Asiyatu laughs while Thandy reads her get well messages!

Lovely Melifa leans forward to see what get-well messages she got on the computer!

Allan is back! He needs to be fitted for an AFO (a type of brace), so his grandma is cleaning his feet after he got his casts off!

Poor Tiyanjane had surgery on her knee and now is being tickled! She has the cutest little laugh and Thandy loves to hear her giggle!

We’re so happy to see Melifa outside enjoying some fresh air at last—it’s pretty cold here in Malawi this time of year, so sometimes it’s just easier to cozy up under blankets!

Anabela was sitting outside on the playground with some perfect lighting! We love this cute little giggler so much!

Physiotherapist Patrick is practicing his woodworking skills—by shaving down the end of a crutch!

Juliet is a pink mess! We’re not sure what’s on her face but it’s definitely glittery! She also has stickers all over her legs!

Tiyanjane and her mom, Ellen, pose for a photo together! Ellen’s knitting another hat—she finished the one she was wearing during their time in the hospital, and we can’t wait to see how the new one turns out!

Thandy reads Eda her multitude of get-well messages when she comes in for a check up.

Tiyanjane laughs while Thandy tickles her feet—we love her smile!

Asiyatu’s mom calls all her friends in the ward to come over and see the before photo of Asiyatu’s clubfoot. “Watch out!” she said—Asiyatu is going to be ready to take on the world with flat feet soon!

Asiyatu grabs her foot after Dr. Mania and Thandy jokingly touch some bands on it.

CUREkids Coordinator Thandy teases Melifa while she’s all cozied up in bed, recovering from osteomyelitis.

Zouleye hid her face behind her hand when I tried to take the first photo, but it was to prepare this beautiful smile for the second one!

Oumarou is usually more shy in front of the camera, but this day just after a good bath he was in a very good mood to pose and smile under the surprised eye of his grandmother!

Saadiya was so happy to learn that she is finally healthy enough for surgery that she had a good second breakfast to be even stronger for the operation next week.

Masaouda made wonderful flower collages during the art therapy session this week!

Charmaine and dad William share a smile as they see her clubfoot-free feet for the first time.

None of our visitors, not even our CURE U volunteers, are exempt from dancing as part of their initiation at Tebow CURE Hospital!

Dr. Joseph, our anesthesiologist and expert photobomber, is at it again!

Pastor Bob Tebow leads members of the Tim Tebow Foundation and CURE in prayer for Timmy’s Playroom and the kids who spend time there.

After so much anticipation, Tim Tebow, along with several members of the Tim Tebow Foundation, finally visited the Tebow CURE Hospital! Silly group photos ensued!

Water runs down Nelvin’s head as he sits in a tub while his mother Shamim bathes him outside the ward.

Esther lays in bed as she talks with her mother, Agnes.

Rebecca lays her hand upon her daughter Achac’s face while she recovers in the ICU the day after her surgery.

Esther rests in bed next to her mother.

Angel’s mother inspects his clubfoot-free foot after his cast was removed.

Dr. Mantegh Sethi, also called Dr. Manny, is a friendly surgeon. He has a great beard, too.

Dr. Moyo and Dr. Vhunda take extra care and concentration when they carry out surgeries.

Before going into surgery, Ethan posed for a photo, saying that surgery doesn’t really scare him.

After operating on a baby with a congenital hip disorder, which caused the leg to face upwards and backwards, the doctor holds it and shows how a “normal” leg should look.

A posteromedial release (PMR) is one of the most successful treatments for neglected clubfoot. After this kind of surgery, the leg is restored to it’s natural position.