“For Doreen, going to school was a problem. Her disability was a source of mockery from her friends,” says Doreen’s father, Daudi. “When she came back from school, she would say, ‘Father, my friends are laughing at me.’ But all we could do was comfort her."
Doreen, age 15, was born with Blount’s disease, a disorder of the tibia, which has caused her legs to bend outwards. Unfortunately, her parents couldn’t afford to take her to the hospital for treatment. Her older sister has the same malformation, but refused surgery in 2002 because she was scared. Her father saved up to bring her sister back to the hospital, but still, she refused to go. Doreen decided to take her sister's place, and in 2017, her parents brought her to the local hospital. A number of referrals eventually brought Doreen to CURE Malawi for treatment, where she stayed for two months. She wore frames on both of her legs for a total of five months. It was difficult, but today Doreen walks free of pain and shame!
Now, she's walking free!
"Before, when we sent Doreen to the shop, she would come back crying, saying they were laughing at her, and they would even stone her. They would say, ‘Oh, the cripple, go throw her into the bush!’ But we said, it's the grace of God; she’s what He has given us. And the same God gave us a way to CURE. Now, the hospital has made her well, and those that were laughing at her do so no longer."
“The other day, we sent Doreen to the shop, and people were looking out from their houses exclaiming, ‘Look at Doreen!’ My wife also was greeted by people saying, ‘You did well, you did well.’ A woman came by this morning, saying, ‘Where Doreen went, we also want to go, we also have a child like Doreen.’ We have shown an example here in our village,” says Daudi.
Doreen has been unable to attend school since her admission to the hospital in August of 2017. However, she’s had her final checkup, her frames are off, her legs are straight and completely healed, and she’s ready to head back to school! When we went to visit her, she excitedly told us she was going back on Monday!
Doreen says, “I'm very happy. I'm happy because I'm walking well, and I will get to school without struggling. Before, my legs were bent, and I was having difficulties getting to school, and I would get there late when the classes were in progress. People were gossiping and laughing at me, saying that I was crippled. I could not walk long distances, and if I did, I felt pain. But now that they have operated on me, I can walk far. I will start school next week, and I want to be a nurse so I can also help my friends who have disabilities.”
We visited Doreen at her school where CURE Malawi's Spiritual Director Jimmy spoke to her teachers, who assured him that they would help her catch up on the coursework she missed during her long absence. We’re so excited for her and ask for your prayers as Doreen continues her education!
Our final word comes from Doreen’s mother, Edina.
“With the way the child was, I didn't know she would be able to walk like this. I am very thankful to God and the doctors for helping my child. My thanks is on my lips, but also deep in my heart. When going to sleep, I say thank you. When I wake up, I say thank you. When I am eating, praying, I say thank you. God should give those people who helped us a long life.”
Doreen says, "I'm very happy because I'm walking well, and I get to school without struggling." Praise God!
© 2026 CURE International
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