"Through a Smile"

By Nicole Tardio, RN, IW Missionary serving in Mongu, Zambia

So I know I have said this many times but I am inspired each day by the people I meet here. It never ceases to amaze me the challenges they face and how they overcome them. I would like to share a story about a young boy I met who I will never forget.

I remember the first time I met Jonathan. I walked onto the Children’s ward at the hospital one morning and he caught my eye immediately. He was waving at me and smiling; when I acknowledged him and said good morning he quickly hid his face. So our relationship went on like this for a while. He was always there whenever I entered the ward and I could always count on the biggest smile from him. He broke his leg playing soccer a couple months before. He would talk about how he just can’t wait until he can play soccer again. So after many complications he ended up with a very bad infection in his leg. When the doctors were talking about having to amputate his lower leg it absolutely broke my heart.

I never saw despair from him only hope. After the surgery he only talked about getting his new leg and how he couldn't wait to walk again. I did his dressing changes several times which caused him a lot of pain. Afterwards his dad would dry his tears. I was afraid he would never smile at me again. Actually this is one of the most challenging things I have found working in Children’s Ward.

The kids don’t understand that often the pain us nurses cause them is really just to help them get better in the future. But Jonathan was different. He never held it against me. For three months he brightened my day with his smile and courage. I was there the morning he was discharged from the hospital after a very long stay. He was still in the healing process and had to wait to be fitted with a prosthesis but I wished him luck with his future soccer matches. It was sad to see him go because I knew I would look to his bed whenever I was on the ward and he would not be there to make me smile or make me laugh. But at the same time I was happy for him and very optimistic for the future of this young boy.

About two months later a friend called me up to go to a home for disabled children run by an order of Sisters here in Mongu. We went for the afternoon to paint fingernails. The home is for children of all ages with varying levels of disabilities. Some kids live there permanently and others go there for a period to receive physical therapy after surgery and to recover. So I walk in and the first face I see is Jonathan’s with the biggest smile. I am shocked, number one because I never expected to see him again, and secondly, I am so happy to see him. He has not been fitted with his prosthesis yet, but he is getting around with crutches and manages to kick the soccer ball around with some of the other volunteers. So I paint nails and Jonathan sits next to me and he absolutely warms my heart with his presence. Once again I say bye to him and wish him well.

Just last week I had another invitation to go to this same home with the youth group from church to sing songs with the children. I was excited because I thought I might get to see my little friend and see how he was doing. When I first saw him I could tell he was being a bit shy like the first time I saw him in the hospital when he hid from me.

Then as I got closer to him I could see he had gotten his new leg. He was sitting on a bench during the whole song and dance performances by the youth and the children in the home. At the end of the program, as I was saying goodbye to everyone, I turned to look for Jonathan to say goodbye and he was walking over to me. I was so moved by this little boy I can’t even explain it. He walked over and gave me a huge hug. I couldn’t say anything in that moment, but no words were needed. He looked up at me and smiled.

All along, I knew this boy would recover and thrive because of his determination and positive outlook, but I thank God I was able to see his process of recovery. Most of the time as a nurse, you watch patients during their hospital stay and as they walk out the door you realize you will probably never see them again and just have to trust that they will survive and thrive. I am a better person because of Jonathan and I am encouraged and motivated by his spirit that he shares through his smile.