For more than 10 years, there was little that Irene had to smile about. Until recently, her life had been checkered with tragedies that left her family torn apart and Irene without a future.
When she was only 8 years old, Irene was cooking in her village in Zambia with her baby brother bound to her back in the traditional “chitenge” cloth. The flames of the open fire leapt up suddenly with a gust of wind, and Irene’s clothes ignited. The chitenge caught fire, and Irene screamed and spun around as she realized the danger her little brother was in.
By the time help had arrived, it was too late. Though Irene and her brother were rushed to the local clinic, the baby boy died before they arrived. The family was heartbroken. Irene herself had suffered severe burn injuries all along the left side of her body. She received limited treatment for her wounds and was sent home back to her village.
Without the necessary therapy and splinting, as Irene’s wounds healed the skin that formed toughened and grew tight with scars. The scarring drew Irene’s arm up and fused the forearm to her bicep.
Irene’s upper arm fused to her chest and her hand bent inwards as her palm fused to her forearm. Instead of an arm, Irene was left with little more than a wing-like appendage.
Irene soon lost hope that anything could ever be done and tried to acclimate to the idea that she would live the rest of her life with only one arm and hand. Years passed and the sad little girl grew up quiet and painfully conscious of the gawking her disfigured arm caused.
She wore her chitenge over the wing so people could not stare. She tried to help her mother with chores around the house, but with only one arm functioning, she was very limited in what she could do.
What could have been a sad ending to a sad story changed the day Irene met Dr. Goran Jovic, the director of ReSurge's Surgical Outreach Program in Lusaka, Zambia. Irene’s mother was moved by the help he provided. Through reconstructive surgery, Goran was able to release the scars that bound Irene’s arm into a ball. After more than 10 years, Irene could at last extend her arm again.
When Goran examined her after her procedure, she winced with a little discomfort as she lifted her arm but also looked at him with a new expression on her face. It was the first time Goran had ever seen her smile.
Goran has plans to release her hand from her wrist next. With newly restored function to her arm and the ability to one day grasp and hold objects, new opportunities to be independent, productive and to help her family will finally be available to her. Finally, Irene has something to smile about.
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