Against All Odds: Fraternal Twins Rise from Malnutrition and Become Symbols of Hope
A mother’s love, community support, and the power of nutrition turn a heart-breaking start into a story of hope.
By: Lerato Brown, Communications and Marketing Manager, World Vision Lesotho
Maseabata, a young mother from Nkhunkhu in Lesotho, remembers the day she discovered she was pregnant as one of the happiest moments of her life. It was 2022, and the prospect of becoming a mother filled her with joy and hope for the future. She attended every clinic appointment diligently, feeling strong, mentally and physically. What she didn’t know, was that her life was about to take a turn she could never have anticipated. On 19th April 2023, ‘Maseabata gave birth to not just one, but two beautiful babies; a boy and a girl, Thapelo and ‘Mathapelo; both healthy, with promising birth weights. It was a surprise twin delivery, but her heart overflowed with love and gratitude. Everything seemed perfect.
That comfort of perfection began to crumble just days after she returned home from the hospital with her twins. ‘Maseabata’s breast milk was bloody. Frightened and confused, she had to stop breastfeeding her babies. Her husband had recently lost his job, and there was no money to buy formula and with no other options and two new-borns relying solely on her breastmilk, ‘Maseabata watched helplessly as the twins began to wither before her eyes. They cried often; their tiny limbs growing frail with every passing day. The twins, once born healthy, were slipping away.
On 22nd December 2023, both children were rushed to the hospital where they were diagnosed with acute malnutrition. For ‘Maseabata, the diagnosis was a stab to the heart. “When I learned that my children were sick, I felt so helpless,” she said. “I thought I had failed them. But I promised myself that I would not give up. I would do whatever it took to save them.” While in the hospital, the twins were stabilized with supplementary milk and medical care.
“When I learned that my children were sick, I felt so helpless,” - 'Maseabata, Mother of the twins
That same week, a team from World Vision International Lesotho visited the hospital as part of their routine outreach. ‘Maseabata shared her story through tears and the staff, deeply moved, recalled the words of World Vision’s founder, Bob Pierce: “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” And felt compelled to act.
By early January 2024, the children were discharged. But ‘Maseabata’s struggle was far from over, she could not sleep at night worrying what she would feed her children. In just a week since their arrival at home came a knock on her door. World Vision had returned; not empty-handed, but with hope. They delivered supplementary milk for the twins, food parcels for the family, and enrolled ‘Maseabata in the community Nutrition Club, a hands-on program that trains mothers in cooking nutritious meals using locally available ingredients. She was also introduced to homestead gardening techniques and paired with a dedicated village health worker, ‘Maresetse, who would walk this road to the twin’s recovery with her.
“The Nutrition Club was a turning point,” Maseabata said. “I learned that I could add peanut butter to porridge to increase its nutritional value. I saw the other mothers, their resilience, and I realized I wasn’t alone.” She began cooking daily with intention. The Nutrition Club became both a classroom and a sanctuary; helping feed not just the bodies of her children, but her weary spirit too.
Though both twins were now receiving better nutrition, only Thapelo began to thrive. His cheeks rounded, his eyes sparkled, and his laughter filled the house. He crawled energetically from room to room, chasing after sound and light. But ‘Mathapelo lagged behind, her weight barely moved, and her milestones delayed. While Thapelo crawled and giggled, ‘Mathapelo remained weak, fragile and motionless, her tiny body often wracked by illness.
This contrast crushed ‘Maseabata’s heart anew. She feared losing her daughter even as she watched her son flourish. Still, she refused to give up. “I cooked, even when she wouldn’t eat. I sang to her, prayed for her, played with her and used every recipe I learned at the club, porridge with milk and peanut butter, eggs with spinach. I knew one day she would respond.”
“I cooked, even when she wouldn’t eat. I sang to her, prayed for her, played with her and used every recipe I learned at the club..."
Throughout this journey, ‘Maresetse, the village health worker, stood by her, she became more than her support, she became family. “I walked hand-in-hand with this family,” Maresetse shared. “Mathapelo’s condition broke my heart, and I committed to helping her every step of the way; I tracked every MUAC measurement, monitored the children’s weight, checked on their prepared meals, encouraged ‘Maseabata on tough days, and celebrated every small win.”
“Mathapelo’s condition broke my heart, and I committed to helping her every step of the way..." - Maresetse, village health worker
Inspired by the support, ‘Maseabata transformed her home too. Her backyard; once bare burst into life with crops. She no longer had to wonder what her children would eat. Her table, once bare, now held food she had grown with her own hands. “We never ran out of greens again,” she smiled.
It wasn’t until May 2024; more than a year after their birth; that the true transformation arrived. One morning, as the family carried on with their lives, ‘Mathapelo crawled across the room for the first time; what followed was her laughter, once rare and weak, now echoed around their home, strong and infectious. She was strong and whole. “That day, I froze, then cried with tears of joy,” ‘Maseabata said. “She made it. We made it.”
Today, the twins are two years old. Thapelo weighs 11kg and ‘Mathapelo has reached 10.7Kg; both thriving beyond the recovery line. Their energy is boundless, their bond inseparable. They chase each other around the yard, pick spinach leaves from their garden with joy, and fall asleep each night full, loved and safe. The cries of hunger are gone, replaced by giggles, curiosity and health and their bodies no longer shrink from malnutrition, but grow strong from love and nourishment.
‘Maseabata is no longer the unsure, desperate mother of 2023. She is now a mentor herself; supporting other young mothers at the Nutrition Club, sharing her journey, growing food, and raising children who smile, run, and thrive. Her prayer for her children is that they will grow up to become great and that their story should be what propels them to overcome any challenges they will face in the future because they are more than conquerors.
The twin’s transformation is evidence to the power of compassion, knowledge, and support. It is a story of saying ENOUGH to hunger and malnutrition, and YES to action. “I once felt I had failed. Now, I know I am a fighter. And I will keep fighting for my children and every child going through what my children suffered.”
Now, I know I am a fighter. And I will keep fighting for my children and every child going through what my children suffered.” - 'Maseabata
From the shadows of acute malnutrition, Thapelo and ‘Mathapelo have emerged not just as survivors but as symbols of hope. World Vision stands with ‘Maseabata, with Thapelo and ‘Mathapelo, and with every child in Lesotho affected by malnutrition to say: #ENOUGH. No child should ever go hungry because every child deserves to enjoy ENOUGH nourishing food so they can thrive.