George was one of the patients treated at CURE in our first year of operations. He is a resilient 25-year-old from the slopes of Mount Kenya born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. George’s life was transformed when he was an infant, and his parents discovered AIC-CURE International Hospital of Kenya (CURE Kenya) in 1998.
The hospital, founded that same year, became a beacon of hope for George and his family as they traveled a long distance to Kijabe for treatment.
Because of his condition, George could not participate in typical childhood activities and faced the challenge of being different from his peers. “It felt traumatizing not to be a normal child. Not playing with the other children. Not to do all those other fun activities and the society having segregated me to a point where they didn’t want much to do with me,” George shared.
From Despair to Hope
When George first came to CURE, he went through casting (plaster) on his left leg to fix the damage caused by the disease. Then, at the age of seven, he had his first surgery. Multiple Sofield-Millar operations were performed to help straighten George’s leg, and extensive physical therapy sessions became integral to his healing journey.
The family made the long trip frequently so George could receive consistent treatment. Thankfully, the introduction of CURE mobile clinics drastically reduced the distance George and his family had to travel, taking it from a 200-kilometer journey to a more manageable 30 kilometers.
Mobile clinics help CURE medical and spiritual teams bring much-needed medical care to some of the most remote and distant places where CURE serves to help children with inadequate access to healthcare, reducing the burden of transportation costs on the family.
Over time, and as he grew older and bigger, he progressed from walkers to crutches, defying the limitations of his brittle bones. As George learned to care for himself, he stopped using calipers (orthotic devices in the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta), progressed using various mobility aids, and currently walks using one crutch.
CURE’s compassionate staff and specialized treatments ignited George’s hope for a brighter future. Despite initial setbacks, he completed his primary and high school education, then attended university, where he earned a degree in economics and statistics. His perseverance and the support of CURE’s compassionate staff empowered him to overcome challenges.
Looking to the Future
Today, George works at CURE Kenya in the finance department. He is thankful to work for the organization that once put a smile on his face during his most trying times. “It’s a very fulfilling moment for me working here. I’m part of the process and part of the team that is putting smiles on the faces of children just as somebody put a smile on mine when I was young. It’s only fair to give back.”
He envisions a future filled with personal and professional achievements, including marriage, career success in finance, and giving back by motivating others facing challenges similar to the ones he’s endured.
George expresses deep gratitude to the doctors at CURE and the generous donors who made his healing journey a reality. “I would also like to say thank you to the donors who have made this treatment possible and ask them not to get tired; many more children out there need the support. Many more need that little light that they shed—and that’s their only hope.”
All medical care is provided at no cost to children and their families, made possible by the generous support of CURE partners and donors. To sponsor a child’s surgery, please click here.
Click here for information about CURE Kenya’s services and to learn more about brittle bone disease.
About AIC-CURE Children’s Hospital of Kenya
CURE Kenya has been a place of hope since opening its doors in 1998. We were Africa’s first orthopedic teaching hospital when it opened in Kijabe. More than just providing life-changing surgeries, CURE cares for the emotional and spiritual needs of all our patients. Our teaching hospital has 47 beds, four operating rooms, and an outpatient clinic.
