A young 8-year old boy named Izuchukwu lives in Akpim village although he is not a student of BOCMA. Recently, his mother, Colete, came to the MOJ Convent in Akpim asking for help in paying for surgery on her son’s broken arm.
Izu sustained the injury while innocently engaging in gymnastics with his friends. Not wanting to trouble his mother, he tried to hide the injury while hoping it would heal by itself. But, it wasn’t to be. “After a day or two, it became so unbearable that I couldn’t use my hand”, Izu said. “The pain was so much I just cried.”
Colete saw that her son wasn’t using his arm to carry things. When she touched his arm and he screamed, she knew he was seriously hurt. After unsuccessfully seeking an affordable natural remedy from a traditional healer, she took Izu to a hospital.
An orthopedic physician examined Izu and strongly recommended surgery, which put mother and son in a desperate situation. “We had no money for surgery and so I began looking for aid until I found the convent of the MOJ Sisters”, Colete said.
She disclosed Izu’s painful injury to the MOJ sisters and pleaded with tears for assistance. “We presented the boy’s case to Rev. Leo who had compassion on him and instructed us to accompany them to the hospital” said Sr. Ann Okweji.
Upon learning the treatment Izu needed for his arm, the MOJs, with the backing of HEAL, directed the doctors to transfer the medical bill into their name. Thankfully, Izu underwent a successful surgery and today his arm is restored.
While there is nothing unremarkable about a boy being injured, Izu’s story reveals God’s remarkable presence in the world. If the MOJs were not present through their Self-Emptying lifestyle, would poor Colete ever have found help for her son?
What a tragedy if no one was present for Izu in his need. Let this motivate us to always be there for others, especially the least among us.