Maya Restored: From Suffering to Smiling

Maya's journey with leprosy began when she was just 7 years old. Small wounds appeared on her skin, which festered and oozed, leaving scars on her face, and deforming her fingers. The discrimination Maya and her family faced from their community forced her to leave school, isolating her from her friends. Worst of all, their house was swept away by floods, leaving Maya and her family homeless.

However, thanks to the support of our dedicated Cure One supporters, Maya was referred to a nearby Leprosy Mission clinic. There, she was diagnosed with leprosy and started on the much-needed Multi-Drug Therapy.

Your support has been a beacon of hope for Maya and her family during this desperate time.

Maya’s diagnosis broke her mum’s heart, especially since the family had already endured so much—Maya’s father, severely weakened by leprosy, had contracted tuberculosis, and died.

“When these bad things happened, we worried we may not afford treatment for my leprosy,” says Maya’s Mother.

Maya needed to take daily antibiotics to cure her leprosy. Thanks to kind Leprosy Mission New Zealand supporters, Maya is cured of leprosy and has a new lease on life.

“If The Leprosy Mission was not there, Maya’s symptoms would have gotten worse. I was scared she might die,” she adds.

With expert care at the Leprosy Mission clinic and your loving support, Maya learned to take care of her wounds to prevent infections. She also received physiotherapy to ensure her hands do not claw further, helping to heal and restore her body. Your love and compassion mean that Maya can be restored to her community and go back to school, which she is really looking forward to.