KIT Blog

By Andrew Newmarch,
International Programs Manager
The Leprosy Mission Australia

“I’m so frustrated. I just can’t play with my friends. And it hurts”.

Jaanu is 12 and he is at a Leprosy Mission Hospital getting ready to have surgery on his hands. About a year ago he started having pains in his wrist and that made it difficult for him to do things and play with his friends. He went to the local hospital, and they just gave him medication for pain. That didn’t really help as the pain persisted.

His family was not familiar with leprosy initially but a couple of years ago Jaanu’s brother had a skin issue and he was tested for leprosy. That alerted his father to signs of leprosy even though his brother did not test positive. Jaanu’s aunt knew a little about leprosy as she had a skin issue as well and was referred to Naini hospital. Thankfully she did not have leprosy but when she saw what was happening to Jaanu’s hands, she suspected leprosy. As Jaanu’s father was sick at the time, she took him along to Naini for tests. He tested positive and was immediately put on MDT (multi-drug therapy).

As doctors examined Jaanu, they found that not only did he have pain in his wrist and fingers out of shape, but he also had small nodules on his feet and the back of his knee. While he is waiting for surgery Jaanu is hanging out in the physio department.

There they are preparing him for surgery by giving him exercises to make his hands more supple before surgery. He is also becoming familiar with others who have had surgery and are doing exercises as part of their recovery. That will help him understand the value of doing exercises post-surgery. He is a little sad and a little bit shocked because he doesn’t know how he got leprosy. But he is not frightened and is looking forward to the day when he can play again.

Pray for continued peace and acceptance for Jaanu as he undergoes surgery. Pray for the surgeons, nurses, physios, and other staff who work hard to give Jaanu a positive outcome.

Pray that he will soon be back playing with his friends.

Give thanks for Jaanu’s family who were pro-active in seeking the right treatment. Pray they will continue to support him as he takes his medication and to do his exercises so that he will make a full recovery.

Pray for the hospitals in India to continue to meet the needs of people affected by leprosy. Pray for the resources to maintain the services, love and care patients need.

You can continue to show your compassion and help cure a child like Jaanu through a monthly gift of tlc (total loving cure). Together we can defeat leprosy.