While conducting a medical needs assessment in Malawi, NYCMedics met Emanuel and his older brother Levinson, who lived in the remote northern village of Chikomabuzi. Emanuel was 17 years old and presented with third-degree burns from his knees to his ankles after a house fire six months earlier. The damage to his young body was devastating. Emanuel had never been seen by a doctor for his burns and had no medicine to combat the severe infections that set in or lessen his intense pain.
Hearing that doctors were going to be in a nearby village, Levinson rode Emanuel more than 7km by bike through rough, muddy terrain. It took the boys several hours to reach the clinic, but they were in good hands. NYCMedics team of medical volunteers were equipped with the medicine and supplies to care for his wounds.
Emanuel was immediately given medicine for his pain and the infection, and his burns were carefully treated for over three hours. Once the procedure was complete, his legs were wrapped in sterile bandages. Levinson held Emanuel’s hand during the entire procedure, never leaving his side.
After Emanuel was treated, the brothers got back on their bike, precariously balancing while taking care not to hit Emanuel’s injured legs or soil the new bandages. Emanuel was given medicine and supplies to continue his care at home. But Levinson returned just a few minutes later. He pointed to the treatment area and asked the doctors if he could clean up the mess. He said it was caused by his brother’s wounds and that the team of doctors had already done enough, it was his turn to help.
