The Presidential Motorcade That Changed a Life

Patients with treatable disabilities find CURE in many ways: a roadside billboard, a social media post, a referral from a community pastor or healthcare worker. But being spotted by a presidential motorcade? That’s a first.

This transformation brought to you by . . . a presidential motorcade.

As Sibajene joined the massive crowd gathered along the roadside to watch the presidential motorcade passing by, she never imagined her life would change forever. 

Born with a cleft lip, she struggled with feeding, speech, and isolation. Her visible condition didn’t draw people in—it made them whisper, point, and turn away. In her community, she was marked as different.

Even her name, in her native language, carried heartbreak, meaning “I did not meet my father.” He passed away before she was born, and her mother died a few years later. She was raised by her older sister, Maidess, who did her best to find help for Sibajene. But the local hospital turned them away, unable to offer the specialized care needed. Despite the ridicule she endured, Sibajene attended school, dreamed of becoming a nurse, and did not shy away from being in public. 

But when a driver in the presidential motorcade spotted Sibajene along the crowded roadside, everything changed. He had heard about Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Zambia and knew the hospital could help. Risking his job, he stopped his car, stepped out, and shared the news that would alter her future—even going so far as to help arrange her transportation there.

A Life-Changing Journey Begins

CURE Zambia is the country’s only charitable children’s hospital. It’s a permanent presence where children like Sibajene can find life-changing surgical and intentional ministry care. This is where Sibajene met Dr. Meredith Workman, the country’s only pediatric plastic surgeon. 

After ensuring that Sibajene was ready for surgery, the medical team wheeled her into the operating room and prayed over her. During a successful two-hour surgery, Dr. Meredith repaired her bilateral cleft lip, marking the start of a new chapter in her life.

Though her lip was sore in the days following the surgery, Sibajene’s heart was light. She enjoyed recovering at CURE—nourished by three meals a day and all she was learning about the love of Jesus. Through speech therapy, part of the comprehensive care CURE provides, Sibajene improved her enunciation.

More Than Just a New Smile

When Sibajene returned home, the world saw her differently—and for the first time, she saw herself differently too. She returned to school with newfound confidence. The same children who had once kept their distance now wanted to be her friends. “I have more friends now,” she said. “They don’t look at me strangely anymore.”

Looking back, she and her sister are grateful for the care they received at CURE. “We are thankful you all worked so hard to help her,” Maidess shared.

Sibajene’s story is one of resilience, kindness, and the extraordinary impact of awareness. The driver who stopped for her that day was a link in a much larger chain—one made up of generous partners like you, skilled medical teams, and people who believe that every child deserves healing.