“As a child, I played to my heart’s content. I had no problems at all. But as I grew older, I started experiencing back pain, especially when I get up after sitting for a long time,” Haniel shared, her smiling eyes reflecting a mix of innocence and resilience.
For years, Haniel lived a life of movement and joy. But about a year ago, her mother, Hirut, noticed something subtle: Haniel’s right shoulder did not sit level with her left. Like many parents, Hirut looked for a simple explanation. Haniel often slung her school bag over just one shoulder, so Hirut urged her to use both straps, hoping the alignment would correct itself.
What began as a small concern soon became more serious. Haniel’s shoulder unevenness became more noticeable, and the curve in her spine continued to worsen.
The Search for Answers
Alarmed, Hirut began a journey through the medical system. Their first stop was a physical therapist, who delivered the daunting news: this was a spinal condition. From there, they moved to a general hospital where Haniel was diagnosed with scoliosis, an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine.
For months, Haniel wore a rigid spine brace, sometimes called a spine jacket, designed to support her back. She tried to adapt, but the jacket could not stop the progression. The simple joys of childhood, playing, walking to school, and running, started to slip away. “I slowly began to get tired after just a few minutes,” Haniel recalls. The pain became a constant companion, sharper every time she tried to stand up after sitting.
A New Chapter for Spine Care in Ethiopia
Realizing the spine jacket was failing, doctors finally referred the family to CURE Children’s Hospital of Ethiopia.
In 2023, CURE’s partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation grew again, this time to CURE Children’s Hospital of Ethiopia, where the Tebow Spine Center opened its doors. Since then, in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation and African Mission Healthcare, more than 180 children with scoliosis and other complex spine conditions have received specialized surgeries and postoperative care. Haniel was the first spine surgery patient treated at the Tebow Spine Center, and her story helped mark the beginning of this new chapter of healing for children in Ethiopia.
Haniel was seen by Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Tim, who gave the family the honest answer they had been searching for: the jacket was not enough. To stop the curve and take away the pain, Haniel needed surgical intervention.
While the idea of undergoing such a significant surgery can be frightening, Haniel and Hirut felt an immediate sense of peace. “I love the care and hospitality I experience from each staff member in this hospital,” Hirut shared. “They treat and talk to you like family.”
In January 2024, Haniel underwent a five-hour spine surgery at the Tebow Spine Center. After months of pain, discomfort, and uncertainty, the surgery became a turning point in her healing journey. It was a major step toward correcting the curve in her spine, relieving her pain, and helping her return to the active, joyful life she had missed.
A New Chapter for Haniel
Two years after her surgery, Haniel is no longer looking forward to a straight back; she has it and she is looking forward to her future. Haniel dreams of becoming a doctor one day, a dream inspired by the very people now working to heal her.
“I will be forever grateful to everyone who helped me,” Haniel shares with a quiet, joyful strength. “Before, I felt so weighed down, but today I can finally walk straight and carry myself with confidence. You didn’t just heal my body; you gave me the courage to believe in my dreams again.”
Through the care of the CURE Ethiopia team and the generosity of donors, Haniel is moving from pain toward healing. We thank God for opening the door to care for Haniel and for many more children who will follow.
Click here to donate and help more children like Haniel receive life-changing spine surgery. Your support helps CURE Ethiopia reach more children with complex spinal conditions and walk with them toward healing. We thank God for this new chapter of hope for children across Ethiopia.
About the CURE Children’s Hospital of Ethiopia
Established in 2008, CURE Ethiopia performs over 2,500 life-changing reconstructive and orthopedic surgeries every year for children suffering from treatable disabilities. Strategically located in the capital city of Addis Ababa, the teaching hospital has 70 beds and four operating rooms. CURE International uses this facility to multiply its efforts by partnering with The College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) to serve as a regional learning institution by implementing an orthopedic pediatric training program at the residency and fellowship levels. In addition to world-class clinical service, CURE Ethiopia ministers to the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their communities.
