Princess Walks Tall Again: How Surgery Restored a Malawi Girl’s Confidence

Princess from Robertson Chavula village in the area of Traditional Authority Jalavikuba in Mzimba district was born a normal child. However, at the age of three, her left lower limb began to project inwardly.

“She was born a normal jovial child, but at age three she began having difficulties walking properly as her left leg projected inwardly,” says Maggie Mhango, the mother.

“When I took her to the hospital, I was told her bones in the leg had some space and this was what rendered her inward projection. So I had to go to the hospital every two weeks,” explains Mhango.

Despite an operation, Princess’ condition did not improve as she still had a limp when walking. 

“Her condition did not improve despite the operation and she still could limp and this did not please her as she was often worried,” adds Mhango.

At school, Princess was often sneered at for having a different gait from her peers. She lost her confidence.

“I did not like going to school as my friends sneered at me, they said I could not walk properly even in my adulthood,” says Princess.

The situation made Princess not as much determined in school as she could ever be. However, she could scoop between positions five and ten.

“Princess could not scoop position one or two, but could maintain his performance within top 10 of the class, of course I was not disappointed as a mother,” says Mhango.

When World Vision came to the community with the Able to Thrive Project, children like Princess had an opportunity for disability mass screening. It was after a mass screening exercise in her community that Princess was recommended for another operation.

“After the assessment, we were told that Princess had to undergo another surgery as the first one did not correct her condition,” says Mhango.

“After the second surgery, she has had a massive improvement. Today, Princess no longer limps when walking. She can walk just as properly as any other child,” she adds.

“I am now so happy that I can walk just as perfectly as my friends. This has given me confidence as now I am able to socialize with friends and concentrate so much in class,” says Princess, the aspiring doctor.

Now seven years old and in grade three at Luzi Primary school, Princess is an academic star in her class as is in top three in most of the class examinations.

“Just last term, Princess scooped position one, and since she got the operation, she has had a massive academic improvement. Her confidence has improved and this has made her interact with friends better than before when she had low self-esteem,” says Nelson Chiumia, a grade three teacher.

34 year old Maggie Mhango and mother of two says she is so glad to see her daughter happy and do well in class. She says her daughter’s improvement has given her peace of mind and focus on other things.

“I am so happy because of the support World Vision has given us towards Princess. This is a motivation that not every disability is permanent and World Vision with the Able to Thrive project is proving that,” she says.

Mhango, now working as Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) volunteer in her community helps identify children with disability and provide guidance on the requisite support that the children need.

“Currently I am working a MACODA community volunteer where I work hand in hand with parents and guardians with children with disabilities. Under the Able to Thrive project, we learnt that all children are equal and we need to give them equal amount of support to reach their potential,” she concludes.