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 When Joseph arrived at House of Moses on July 24, 2007 he was starving. He was as small and weak as a four month old baby. We checked his birth date again; March 18, 2005. Joseph was almost two and a half years old. Joseph’s father had recently died and his mother, with no means of support, was herself in little better shape than Joseph. We gave her a meal and a bit of food to take with her, counseling her where to go for additional help.
Our first challenge was to save Joseph’s life. As with many starving children, Joseph’s little tummy rejected food while chronic diarrhea and vomiting sapped his strength. Irene, the head nurse at House of Moses diluted his formula until he was able to hold it down. Gradually, Joseph gained strength. But as he grew, it became obvious that all was not well with this little boy. Soon, our fears were confirmed, he was Down Syndrome and had hip dysplasia. Such a diagnosis would be devastating anywhere in the world, but in a developing country such as Zambia, there are pitifully few resources for children with disabilities.
We knew Joseph’s future looked dim,  but he didn’t! He became the happiest baby in the nursery, clapping his hands, singing his own little song and scooting everywhere on his hips almost as fast as his age mates could run. We were blessed with three different physical therapists on mission teams this year who laid out daily therapy and purchased the equipment needed for Joseph to improve. By June, Joseph could stand, holding onto something, or someone for support. In July, one of the PTs showed him how to walk, holding the back of a child’s chair like a walker.
There is another happy side to Joseph’s story. His mother found work and a place to live. She visited frequently and learned how to care for her special son. One unforgettable day Joseph went home with his mother. Tears filled her eyes when she said how she had thought he would die, how she loves Joseph more than ever, and how grateful she is to House of Moses.
We are grateful that Joseph is back at home with his mother and now walking!
We invite you to provide a safety net of prayer and provision for a child like Joseph.
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