A bright, contagious smile and an enthusiastic thumbs-up are what you’ll see these days from Ismael. That’s because he’s able to walk easily and free of pain. But life wasn’t always so great for this ambitious young man. 

In fact, before receiving treatment at CURE Children’s Hospital of Niger (CURE Niger), Ismael describes his life as “miserable.” 

An Illness with Devastating Consequences

It all started when Ismael was nine years old and received injections to treat a case of malaria. A few months later, he began experiencing pain in his legs and having trouble walking. He eventually developed a joint condition in his right leg that caused his knee to hyperextend backward.

“I couldn’t walk or do any activity for myself,” Ismael says. “I couldn’t sleep normally. My leg was always raised. And I didn’t want to go outside because I was ashamed for people to see me.”

Ismael endured endless taunts from other children, who yelled, “Lame person! lame person!” He visited the local hospital several times, but doctors told him they couldn’t do anything to help. His condition eventually forced him to leave school. Without an education, Ismael’s hope for the future was out of reach. This was devastating for him.

Ismael feared he would live the rest of his life with the painful condition—unable to walk normally and ridiculed by his community. Then a friend told him about CURE, where he could have surgery to correct his leg at no cost to his family.

Life-Changing Surgical Care and Recovery

At CURE Niger, the medical and spiritual ministry staff welcomed and encouraged him, ensuring him God was on his side. “Since I entered CURE,” he said, “people do not stop taking care of me.”

One of CURE Niger’s highly skilled surgeons, Dr. Uli Seeberger, surgically corrected Ismael’s knee joint and attached an external fixator to his leg to keep his bones in proper alignment as he healed. He spent a day in the hospital, then doctors discharged him.

Before Ismael left, the spiritual ministry team gave him an audio Bible so he could continue to learn from God’s Word while recovering at home. This is an example of CURE’s commitment to treating our patients’ physical disabilities and helping them grow spiritually.

Ismael returned to CURE for regular check-ups, where doctors ensured his fixator was keeping his leg in the correct position. Although the process was grueling at times, Ismael could see the progress he was making and had faith that one day he would recover.

Finally, after five months of treatment, Ismael’s leg was straight! CURE also provided him with two sets of shoes with high soles to even out the discrepancy in the length between his legs, allowing him to be mobile and walk pain-free.

According to Ismael’s aunt, everyone who saw him was amazed at his transformation. “We are very grateful and full of joy for what you have done for Ismael. Because if it were not for you, he would have been disabled his whole life.”

Now Ismael can attend school, work a job, and care for himself. He plans to continue his studies and hopes to one day become an electrician.

“I am living the transformation and the real change,” he says. “I will never forget CURE, and I will help others who have the same case as me by referring them here.”

We’re grateful to our generous and faithful partners whose generosity transforms the lives of children like Ismael every day!