A Dream Coming True
A met young Kwasi Owusu on a trip to Ghana earlier in the year. He told me his dream: He simply wished that his right hand could become the same as his left hand.
You see, his right hand was badly deformed by the tropical disease Buruli
ulcer, which is something like leprosy. He could no longer use that hand for writing or anything else. At school, kids called him names and made fun of him. All he wanted, he said, was his right hand back.
Eight-year-old Kwasi broke my heart. I wanted to see if there was anything we could do to help him recover the use of his hand. I asked the MAP team to investigate what options there might be for reconstructive surgery in Ghana. Yesterday, I received news that brought tears to my eyes:
Kwasi is on his way to the neighboring country of Cote d’Ivoire to get the surgery he needs. Here is the email I received from MAP’s Cote d’Ivoire director and regional representative in West Africa, Dr. Julien Ake:
Dear Michael,
Last week, I visited the Ghana office for supervision purposes. In regard to your wish, and with God’s grace, the MAP Ghana and MAP Cote d’Ivoire teams have completed all the required formalities to get Kwasi transferred to Cote d’Ivoire for the reconstructive surgery of his right hand damaged by Buruli ulcer.
We are collecting pictures of the process to develop a video. Attached is the
picture of Kwasi’s family: Dad, Mum, young brother and the Nurse Florence just prior to his departure to Cote d’Ivoire.
We are all praying for the success of the surgery.
I‘ll keep you posted on the process.
Blessings
The restoration of his right hand is a big dream for a small boy from a poor village in Ghana. It is also one bright light for a middle-aged man from the United States (me) who has seen too much pain and suffering in the world.
Please pray with me for a successful surgery for my friend, Kwasi.
What a beautiful story, Michael. I will keep Kwasi and his medical team in my prayers. Blessings on all who made this happen! Janice