Joana Gibson before surgery

Joana Gibson is nine years old and has been through more struggles in those nine years than most people will face in a lifetime. She and her father, Gibson Bemberezi, come from Layison Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwansambo in NKhota kota District of Malawi. As a family they worship at Church of Christ.

When Joana was born, she had no visible deformity and appeared healthy. It wasn’t until the age of four that it was discovered that she had developed epilepsy. At the tender age of four, she was put on treatment for her epilepsy. Little did they know that things were about to get much worse.

In 2009 she had an epileptic attack, causing her to fall on a fire and severely burn her hand. She was immediately taken to the local district hospital. Despite the treatment, the healing resulted in contracture – a shortening and hardening of the muscles, tendons, or other tissue that often leads to deformity and rigidity of joints.

Joana’s hand was so extremely deformed she was unable to write. Due to her condition, she could not go to school. Rather than encourage her, her friends viciously mocked her. In a time when she needed unconditional support, she was alienated because of her injury. In addition to being deformed, Joana could not help but feel neglected and segregated.

Like his daughter, Gibson Bemberezi was faced with discouragement from the community. When Joanna first developed epilepsy, people from the village advised him to consult native doctors, but Gibson refused because he was a Christian. Later, when Joana was given the opportunity to go to the CURE Hospital, the neighbors continued to disparage Gibson, insisting that there was a risk that Joana could die.

Joana Gibson after surgery

Fortunately, there was hope; a volunteer from Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) visited the village and found Joana. The volunteer arranged for Joana to come to a CURE clinic in NKhota-kota where she was booked for an operation at the Beit CURE International Hospital.

Gibson was extremely worried about how he would ever pay for the expensive operation. According to him, he saw the power of God illustrated through his daughter when he was told that her operation expenses would be paid by a donor from another country.

Gibson is very thankful to all the donors who provide the funds to heal disabled children. Because of these donors, Joana is able to clasp things with her hand. Before this surgery, Joana was a subject of ridicule amongst her friends and could not even go to school. Now, she can hold a pen and is back in school! Joana has her life back, and her father says that his spiritual life was transformed by the CURE Hospital.