Thirteen-year-old Lungisani still struggles to comprehend the terrifying ordeal that left him with a broken leg and the possibility of needing crutches for the rest of his life. Like many children in his village, Lungisani spent his days helping his family herd cattle. One scorching afternoon, thirst struck him and his friends, leading them to the river bank in search of water. This particular river, during the rainy season as it was on this day, is notorious for its strong currents, slippery rocks, and vicious crocodiles.
Tragedy struck in an instant. As Lungisani and his friends neared the river bank, a large crocodile broke the surface of the water, grabbed Lungisani by the leg, and began pulling him into the river. Panic and fear gripped Lungisani’s friends, causing them to flee to safety, leaving him alone in a desperate struggle with the vicious crocodile.
Fortunately, Lungisani’s strength and quick thinking saved his life. He spotted a nearby tree and grabbed its roots just as the crocodile began to tire. Finally, the beast released its grip, freeing Lungisani but leaving him with a crushed leg. A passing adult saw the tail end of the attack, called for help, and alerted Lungisani’s father, Nhlanhla. The two men carried Lungisani back home in a wheelbarrow, and because of the bad road network, the ambulance reached Lungisani’s home after a very long time, but thankfully he was taken to a local hospital.
The hospital provided first aid and blood transfusions but couldn’t offer more help. The surgery needed to repair Lungisani’s mangled leg remained out of reach as the doctors there couldn’t handle the complexity of his condition. Not only was his bone broken, but an infection was also beginning to set in, leaving Lungisani in excruciating pain and unable to attend school. Lungisani faced an uncertain future.
Fortunately, during a follow-up visit to the local hospital, the doctor referred them to CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe (CURE Zimbabwe), changing the trajectory of Lungisani’s life.
After undergoing four surgeries and having an Ilizarov frame affixed to his leg to ensure proper healing, Lungisani spent three months recovering in CURE Zimbabwe’s long-stay ward. He received specialized treatment, medication, and compassionate care from the hospital’s clinical staff. This care, provided at no cost to Lungisani and his family, came as a huge relief as they had exhausted their resources seeking treatment at local hospitals.
Lungisani also encountered the spiritual ministry team, who shared the message of Christ with him. The experience deeply moved both Lungisani and Nhlanhla, leading them to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!
In his conversation with the spiritual ministry, Lungisani came to a powerful realization: God had been watching over him. “I could have easily lost my leg during that crocodile attack, and my local hospital couldn’t help because my condition was so complex,” Lungisani reflected. He felt like he was on the brink of death from the infection, but when he arrived at CURE Zimbabwe, he experienced the love of God in a whole new way. “Here at CURE Zimbabwe, I received a message of hope about being saved. I didn’t really understand it, but after talking to the pastor and learning about Jesus’ mercy, I now understand it was Him all along,” Lungisani said.
Nhlanhla expressed his gratitude for the experience. “I have never owned a Bible before,” he remarked. “The work the pastors are doing in this place is great. I have come to know Christ. Now I want to relate with Him, and I want to go to church.” CURE Zimbabwe is also working on connecting them to a faith community.
CURE Zimbabwe’s spiritual ministry is continuing to support Lungisani, helping him process and work through his trauma. When we visited his home recently, Nhlanhla shared that Lungisani sometimes finds himself drawing crocodiles in the dirt as a way to process everything that happened.
Lungisani returned to CURE Zimbabwe for his check-up, and the medical team removed the Ilizarov frame, marking a significant step in his recovery. Lungisani has regained his ability to walk and diligently performed his assigned physical therapy exercises to learn to walk properly again! Although he still limps a bit, he once again has a fully functioning leg and a bright future!
The CURE Zimbabwe Spiritual Ministry team recently visited Lungisani at his home to see how he was doing. They were happy to find him back on his feet and doing the activities he loves. Lungisani loves farming and hopes to be a Teacher or Farmer when he grows up, so he is happy to be up on his feet and back to herding his father’s cattle and goats.
His teachers expressed their joy in seeing him back on his feet and encouraged him to return to school and finish his studies. Lungisani also says he is ready to go back to school and is determined to ace his exams so that he can keep moving toward his goal of becoming a farmer.
Click here to learn more about how you can partner with CURE to bring hope and healing to even more incredible children like Lungisani.
About the CURE Children’s Hospital of Zimbabwe
Established in April 2021, CURE Zimbabwe is the first and only hospital in the country of 14 million people to provide orthopedic care for disabilities such as clubfoot, bowed legs, and knock knees to children regardless of their economic status. The teaching hospital has 18 beds, three operating theaters, and an outpatient clinic. The hospital was refurbished by the Zimbabwe Orthopedic Trust in partnership with the Zimbabwean government and is located adjacent to United Bulawayo Hospital in Bulawayo.
