Check-Up highlights the physical and spiritual transformation happening around the CURE children’s hospital network. These stories are made possible by God’s grace and the generous partners and supporters dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable children living with disabilities.
Throughout Check-Up, some hospital references use the shortened version of their legal name.
ABOUT CURE
CURE International is a Christian nonprofit organization that operates a global network of eight pediatric hospitals providing world-class surgical and intentional ministry care for children living with treatable disabilities. CURE donors help provide services at no cost for families living in poverty.
HOW YOUR GIFTS HELP
When you give to CURE, your gift brings lifechanging surgical care and the love of Jesus into the lives of children with clubfoot, cleft lip/palate, knock knees, bowed legs, hydrocephalus, and more. Thank you for your partnership and support.
table of contents
WE WELCOME COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK!
(616) 512-3105
cure.org
checkup@cure.org CURE International 70 Ionia Ave SW Suite 200 Grand Rapids, MI 49503
03 04 12 08 10 16 20
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
With your help, we’re going further to reach more kids.
CURE NEWS
We love major milestones: Uganda’s new surgical center and 100,000 patient visits in the Philippines!
EVERY CHILD MATTERS FOREVER CHANGED Ibeda once walked in shame. Now she boldly walks with Jesus.
INSIDE A MOBILE CLINIC NO CHILD BEYOND REACH
Medical and ministry teams reached all 28 districts in Malawi, because no child should be too far from care.
FEATURE STORY RESTORING MOBILITY, INSPIRING FUTURES
A surgery can change a child’s life. A prosthetic leg can help them move forward. We’re making sure children get both.
ON THE FRONTLINES COMING FULL CIRCLE: FROM LEARNING TO LEADING
As a graduate of CURE’s first-ever orthopedic fellowship, Dr. Chelsea Shikuku is training future surgeons.
VISION PARTNERS TIM TEBOW’S VISIT & PARTNERSHIP IMPACT
We’re celebrating 13 years of changing lives together for children with disabilities.
More Care, More Places, More Hope
GROWING THE MISSION TOGETHER
WBY JUSTIN NARDUCCI President/CEO
henever I have the privilege of walking the halls of a CURE hospital, I am always struck by the smiles I see on the faces of the staff, patients, and caregivers. Despite the postsurgery discomfort and long recoveries, God is there, bringing immense joy and comfort alongside healing. And none of it would be happening without your generosity.
This latest edition of Check-Up offers a colorful glimpse into the life-changing work you make possible. We’ll take you to Malawi, where CURE has reached all of the country’s 28 districts, including a remote island and a refugee camp, with medical and ministry care (page 10).
On page 12, you’ll get an in-depth look at our expanded prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) services, which are helping children with limb loss walk, run, and play like kids—often for the first time ever!
And because training future surgeons is the most impactful thing we can do to help the approximately 1.75 billion children
Outside CURE Kenya, Anastasia shares with Justin all the places her new prosthetic leg is helping her go.
worldwide who lack access to medical care, we can’t wait to introduce you to Dr. Chelsea Shikuku (page 16). A former CURE resident and fellow, she’s now educating the next generation of surgeons at CURE Kenya.
I always look forward to sharing our stories with you. Thank you for supporting us
New CURE Uganda Surgical Center =
More Lives Saved
CURE Uganda’s new surgical center is officially open, bringing renewed hope to more children facing life-threatening conditions like hydrocephalus and spina bifida. The new space is 3x larger, with four state-of-the-art operating rooms allowing for 500 more surgical procedures a year, specialized air filtration systems, an expanded postanesthesia care unit, and much more.
These improvements help the hospital meet the same high standards expected from top facilities in the US. With your support, CURE Uganda continues to perform more pediatric neurosurgeries than any other hospital in the world (2,000+ every year)—bringing lifesaving surgical care and Jesus’s love to thousands of children and families each year.
top: The surgical team gathers in one of the new operating rooms, moments before the first surgery.
bottom left: Anesthesiologist Dr. Betty (right) prepares a young patient for surgery.
bottom right: Dr. Ronald draws smiles from a patient before heading to the operating room.
to learn more about the new surgical center’s life-saving impact in Uganda.
Tebow CURE Philippines
Celebrates 100,000
Patient Visits
Earlier this year, Tebow CURE Philippines celebrated a milestone more than a decade in the making: 100,000 patient visits. Each visit represents a child seen, cared for, and loved by our medical and ministry teams. A milestone this big is cause for celebration. So when Mark, a 16-year-old boy with clubfoot, arrived as patient 100,000, we threw a party. But the real celebration is this: Mark will walk out of the hospital on
left: Celebrating Mark, the 100,000th patient visit, with balloons, cake, and gifts . . . but the real gift is lifechanging surgery!
two straight feet. His mom, Anna Marie, said, “We are so thankful for all this, and we are excited and ready for my son to be healed!”
above: We love to spark joy and celebrate the families we serve.
“CURE Introduced Us to the Real God”
a church back home!
When children and families experience the love of Jesus at CURE, it changes lives. Sometimes, it changes a village.
In Malawi, Jasi brought his son, Kefasi, to CURE for treatment for a limb condition.
Surgery healed Kefasi’s leg; hearing the gospel message forever changed them both.
“I had been worshiping ancestral spirits,” Jasi said. “The message of truth from CURE convicted my spirit. I realized I should trust God alone.”
Returning home, Jasi led his family to faith, went to Bible college, and planted a church.
“After my transformation at CURE, I decided to establish a platform where people could accept Jesus—just like I did,” he said.
Today, he pastors more than 70 people, and Kefasi serves as a youth leader—a boy once treated at CURE, now leading others to Christ.
One member shares, “Thanks to CURE for introducing us to the real God.”
Jasi and his son Kefasi learned about the love of Jesus at CURE . . . and planted
Introducing CURE Conversations
New Counseling Program Helps Kenya’s Kids Stay Resilient
Best-selling author and CURE advocate Liz Bohannon talks to the passionate voices driving CURE’s mission.
Meaningful conversations. Real impact. You’ll love CURE Conversations, our new podcast featuring behind-the-scenes stories and inspiring guests who are passionate about serving Jesus, children in need, and the world around them.
Every insightful conversation explores how God is at work in the lives of real people with a heart for CURE. You’ll hear a variety of voices:
Dr. Meredith Workman, CURE’s Lead Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Jon Foreman, lead singer of Switchfoot and friend of CURE
Mike Tamte, cofounder of EVEREVE . . . and many others
It’s an easy, encouraging listen that informs, inspires, and connects you to the life-changing work you make possible. We hope you enjoy!
Scan here or visit cure.org/conversations to listen.
A life-limiting disability like clubfoot or cleft lip affects more than a child’s body—it can shape how they see themselves. That’s why CURE Kenya partnered with Hope and Healing International to launch Bouncing Back, a new program to help the kids and
Revolutionizing Spine Surgery at CURE Ethiopia
her mom, Kelem) recently returned for a postsurgical follow-up feeling healthier and with a much straighter spine!
NEW EPISODE
with host Liz Bohannon
D JON FOREM
teens we serve work through challenges like neglect, rejection, and low self-worth.
Twenty-seven patients recently graduated from the program, each receiving a certificate and a Bible. Their takeaway? When life knocks you down, bounce back like a ball—not break like an egg.
We’re grateful for partners like Hope and Healing for helping us best support the children and families we serve.
This is a different kind of hospital care. Who treats your body and spirit? Only CURE does that!”
—HOPEKINS’S MOM
right: Hopekins, who is receiving treatment at CURE Kenya for clubfoot, learned how to overcome challenges with essential lessons from the Bible through the resilience program.
Since spine surgery services began at CURE Ethiopia in January 2024, surgeons have performed more than 390 life-changing surgical procedures to correct debilitating spine conditions. And now these complex surgeries are safer and more efficient—thanks to the adoption of the high-tech 7D FLASH Navigation System.
This innovative system—made possible through the support of Orthofix, an industry leader in medical devices— uses a real-time 3D image of the spine, enhancing surgical precision and accuracy. It also significantly reduces radiation exposure, ensuring our staff and patients are kept safe.
The device is changing the lives of children like 12-year-old Yemariam, who has undergone three surgeries for scoliosis. Her mom, Kelem, calls CURE “a gift from God.” She says, “If CURE hadn’t been here, children like my daughter would be forced to live the rest of their lives with their disabilities.”
above: The CURE Ethiopia surgical team uses the 7D FLASH Navigation System to surgically correct Yemariam’s scoliosis.
left: Thanks to the system, CURE’s surgeons inserted rods to correct the curvature in her spine due to scoliosis.
Surgery changed her leg. Jesus changed her heart.
Through your support, Ibeda received life-changing surgery and a new source of joy.
A Life-Limiting Condition
Ibeda was a joyful girl until an anti-malaria injection from her local hospital in Togo, in West Africa, damaged her leg, causing her knee to bend backward.
“People laugh at me when I walk,” she recalls. “It made me cry.”
Restored by Surgery
A local hospital referred Ibeda to CURE’s hospital in neighboring Niger, where surgeons performed two procedures to straighten her legs—at no cost to her family.
Transformed by God’s Word
During recovery, the ministry team prayed for Ibeda, shared truth from Scripture, and gave her a book about Jesus. She said, “I know God listens to the prayers and gives me strength every day.”
“I learned about Jesus’s miraculous birth. I’m going to keep reading to learn more about Him.”
Forever Changed
Today, Ibeda is back home and walking confidently on two straight legs. Reflecting on her transformation, she connects her story to a Bible lesson she learned at CURE: “For me, CURE Niger and all the people who have supported my recovery are like the Good Samaritan who helped the stranger he found on the road.”
Scan to watch Ibeda’s story.
BEYOND REACH NO CHILD
With your support, CURE Malawi has brought much-needed specialized medical care and God’s Word to the entire country.
Stretching across 45,000+ square miles of rolling hills, Malawi is a beautiful country where access to healthcare remains limited for many. In response, over four years, the CURE Malawi team reached all of the country’s 28 districts with vital medical care and the love of Jesus.
This was no small feat—the team crossed rough terrain and even traveled by boat to reach remote regions. The results are incredible: 18,584 children screened, 3,339 admitted to CURE for life-changing surgery, 144,977 reached with the gospel, and 843 church leaders trained to advocate for the vulnerable in their communities.
The team has a big goal, says Davie Simengwa, Director of Programs and Development: total surgical equality, whether a child lives in the remotest village or the capital city.
“This milestone is just the beginning of a permanent bridge between rural Malawi and world-class surgical care,” he says.
With the help of dedicated partners— including Malawi’s Ministry of Health, World Vision, and you!—hope is within reach for the country’s estimated 400,000 children living with treatable disabilities. .
REACHING KIDS LIKE PEMPHERO
For most of her life, Pemphero’s painful bowed legs made it hard to walk or dream for the future . . . until a CURE Malawi mobile clinic visited her village. After surgery at CURE, she says, “I learned God heals. I can walk without feeling pain!” And she has a dream: to be a nurse.
after before
MALAWI MAP
Patient visits at CURE Malawi have more than doubled since the initiative to reach all 28 districts began.
DZALEKA REFUGEE
CAMP
The mobile clinic team reached the Dzaleka Refugee Camp—home to more than 50,000 refugees and a 6-hour drive from the hospital.
LIKOMA ISLAND
The team’s most adventurous trip was to reach the 11,000 residents of Likoma Island, in Lake Malawi—a journey requiring a 10-hour drive and a 2-hour speedboat ride.
In addition to providing medical care, the team trained 14 church leaders to become advocates for those with disabilities in the community.
CURE HOSPITAL
Ethel wanted to be a doctor. First, she needed to walk. Her story—and hundreds of thousands like it—is why CURE is expanding prosthetics and orthotics services across our hospital network.
Growing up in Zimbabwe, 17-year-old Ethel had a dream: to become a doctor.
But she was born without a right shin bone, a condition called tibia aplasia, which made it nearly impossible for her to make the long trek to school each day. For Ethel to walk on two strong legs and achieve her dream, she would need surgery and a prosthetic limb.
When her father passed away and her family’s income disappeared, so did her hope of ever accessing or affording those specialized services, which were already limited in her country. “I am missing out on so much,” she told us. “I don’t want to be like this for the rest of my life.”
WHEN SURGERY IS NOT ENOUGH
Of the 9.5 million children living with treatable disabilities where CURE serves, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 900,000 of them will need both surgery and specialized mobility devices, like a foot brace or a prosthetic leg, to walk and live independently.
Sadly, less than 5 percent will receive them. With your help, we are working to change this.
continued
PROSTHESIS a custommade limb that allows a child to walk, play, and live independently
ORTHOSIS a support worn to correct alignment and improve movement for kids with conditions like clubfoot and cerebral palsy
For Ethel, full recovery meant surgery, community worship, and a prosthetic leg made just for her.
BUILDING WHAT’S MISSING
CURE is expanding prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) services at our hospitals so that children like Ethel can get both the surgeries they need and the prosthetic limbs and other mobility aids required to navigate the world around them.
CURE opened brand-new P&O workshops at our hospitals in Zambia and
LAST YEAR, CURE MADE 3,685 LIMBS & BRACES TO HELP THOUSANDS OF KIDS WALK!
how is a prosthetic leg made?
Zimbabwe—the only facilities in those countries offering these services at no cost— and we’ve strengthened existing services at our hospitals in Ethiopia and Kenya. Workshops are also planned for CURE Malawi and Niger in the coming years.
Inside each workshop, skilled clinicians and technicians custom-make prosthetic limbs and orthotic devices using durable, high-quality materials. CURE’s physical therapists offer the support kids need to train new muscles and learn to walk on new limbs. And as they heal, the spiritual ministry team shares the good news of the gospel.
“There are a lot of children who have amputations or are born with limb differences,” says Margaret Guyan, Director
A clinician evaluates each patient to best determine their needs.
A mold is taken, and technicians build the prosthetic leg using durable, high-quality materials.
featuring Kudakwashe’s journey at CURE Zimbabwe
of Prosthetics and Orthotics for CURE International.
“It’s really exciting to provide these mobility services that help them walk, go to school, and live life in all its fullness.”
Nobody knows this more than Ethel.
ETHEL’S FIRST STEPS
When the P&O workshop opened its doors last year at CURE Zimbabwe, Ethel was one of the first patients served. Surgeons performed an amputation at her knee joint, and once she was healed, she received her custommade prosthetic leg. After a few weeks of physical therapy, she was moving for the first time on two legs.
“I never thought I would ever have an opportunity to walk,” she said. “Today I learned that I can’t limit God’s power. Now I feel like I can do anything!”
Because of your partnership, more children like Ethel are receiving not just surgery but the full continuum of care they need to step into the future God has for them. Thank you for making it possible..
right: Ethel, before and after:
“Now I feel like I can do anything!”
The limb is adjusted for a custom and comfortable fit. 3.
After physical therapy, kids take their first steps toward freedom! 4.
COMING FULL CIRCLE: LEADING from to
LEARNING
Dr. Chelsea Shikuku, a recent graduate of CURE’s first-ever pediatric orthopedic fellowship, is now leading research teams and educating the next generation of surgeons in Kenya.
URE is dedicated to changing the world for the approximately 1.75 billion children across the globe who lack access to surgical care. And the best way to make that happen? Training the next generation of world-class surgeons.
Dr. Chelsea Shikuku, the newest Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at CURE Kenya, perfectly embodies the fulfillment of that mission.
In December 2025, Dr. Chelsea graduated from CURE’s first-ever pediatric orthopedic fellowship, a collaborative effort between CURE Kenya and CURE Ethiopia. She began serving full-time as a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at CURE Kenya in January 2026.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO SURGICAL CARE
become a doctor after seeing Kenya’s need for national orthopedic surgeons while volunteering at a home for children with disabilities.
“God has been faithful, and now years down the line, I get to train in the subspecialty I dreamt of back in the day,” she recalls.
After earning her medical degree from the University of Nairobi in 2016, she completed an internship and worked as a Medical Officer before beginning a five-year residency at CURE Kenya, which she completed in December 2023. She then went on to finish the fellowship.
Africa, the continent with the world’s fastestgrowing population, faces a critical shortage of surgical specialists like Dr. Chelsea due to limited training capacity
Raised in Naro Maru, a small town in central Kenya that serves as a base for hikers tackling the climb up Mount Kenya, Dr. Chelsea was inspired to continued
right: “When you help a child become more independent, then you’re freeing their parent or caregiver, allowing them to be able to do other things . . . And so they become independent members of society,” says Dr. Chelsea.
Training at CURE
Africa faces a severe shortage of pediatric surgeons, with some regions having fewer than one specialist per 7 million children. CURE is working to change that.
TRAINING BY THE NUMBERS
numbers reflected are from 2025
and scarce resources. CURE is committed to addressing this void. By training national medical professionals, we’re expanding access to care and ensuring a lasting impact within our hospitals and the broader national health systems.
Last year alone, 146 fellows and residents trained at CURE hospitals. CURE also held 600 clinical training events to equip and strengthen local healthcare workers.
fellows and residents trained at CURE hospitals
600 146
clinical training events to equip and strengthen local healthcare workers
More highly skilled surgeons and healthcare workers mean more children get the care they desperately need.
above: Since beginning her residency in 2019, Dr. Chelsea has performed more than 1,200 life-changing surgeries.
AN INVESTMENT WITH A LASTING IMPACT
Dr. Chelsea represents the full circle of CURE’s investment in training. In addition to her clinical work, she is the hospital’s Head of Education and Research, advancing best practices and monitoring data to ensure the highest-quality care possible. She also mentors and trains residents and fellows, equipping the next generation of compassionate surgeons.
Dr. Timothy Nunn, Medical Director at CURE Ethiopia, supervised Dr. Chelsea during her residency and has appreciated seeing her embrace a leadership role. “Dr Chelsea has excellent people skills and outstanding capabilities in teaching, critical decision-making, and surgical skills, and she is an encouragement to others,” he says
Dr. Chelsea knows her work as a specialty surgeon is vital. By correcting children’s disabilities, she helps them grow into healthy, active members of society. It also frees their caregivers to provide for their families.
“Transforming a child’s life impacts generations to come,” she says. “It is humbling to stand in the gap to meet the need of expertise in this field in this part for the world.”
In addition to her clinical training, Dr. Chelsea deeply values the spiritual care CURE provides for staff through prayer, Bible studies, and ongoing faith-based encouragement. This support better equips her to deliver the compassionate, Christ-centered care that sets CURE apart—attending to every child’s physical needs as well as their emotional and spiritual well-being.
“We can’t give from empty cups, so the fact that we’re filled every day allows us to fill other people’s cups,” she notes.
Because of partners like you, Dr. Chelsea is able to provide life-changing surgery for children today, train the next generation of surgeons, and transform lives for years to come. Thank you! .
Keeping Up with the Herd
Growing up in a pastoralist family that travels with their herds, movement is life for William. So when he developed bowed legs, his parents were greatly concerned. Thankfully, he was referred to CURE when a mobile clinic visited near his school. Today, after Dr. Chelsea performed specialized surgery, William is running, playing, and keeping up with his herd! It’s a transformation that his mom says is “the Lord’s doing.”
William before
Highlighting CURE partners who help heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God
FTIM TEBOW VISITS CURE HOSPITALS
where children are the true MVPs
In 2022, Tim met Ropafadzo, treated for brittle bone disease at CURE Zimbabwe. When he returned in 2026, they danced together—celebrating her healing.
our years ago, when former NFL player and philanthropist Tim Tebow visited CURE’s hospital in Zimbabwe and stood on the site of the children’s recovery ward, it was only a dirt field. Earlier this year, when he returned, he stepped into a joy-filled building packed with moms singing and kids recovering from surgery.
That is the power of partnership. And it’s a glimpse of how God is using Tim and his foundation to transform the lives of children with treatable disabilities.
A PARTNERSHIP CHANGING LIVES
For more than 13 years, CURE International and the Tim Tebow Foundation (TTF) have partnered to serve children living with treatable disabilities, bringing surgery and the love of Jesus to kids who might otherwise go without care.
It’s the kind of transformation that points to God at work. As Tim puts it: “I think when you walk into a CURE hospital, you
feel the presence of God and there’s something special.”
The journey first began in the Philippines, where TTF helped build Tebow CURE Philippines. Since opening in 2014, more than 15,000 children have received specialized surgeries and Christ-centered care. In 2015, the hospital held its first Night to Shine, TTF’s special event we host where children with disabilities are made to feel loved and celebrated.
The partnership expanded to Zimbabwe, supporting life-changing surgeries and helping establish the Tebow Care Center children’s ward, which doubled the hospital’s capacity to serve more kids. The foundation also built Timmy’s Playroom, a space within the ward where children continue healing through play, Bible stories, and crafts, making it a place of both recovery and ministry.
In 2023, the partnership grew again at CURE Ethiopia, where the Tebow Spine Center opened. To date, in partnership with both TTF and African Mission Healthcare, hundreds of children with scoliosis and other complex spine conditions have received specialized surgical care.
When you walk into a CURE hospital, you feel the presence of God and there’s something special.”
—TIM TEBOW
“This partnership is helping us reach more children who are suffering from scoliosis,” said Dr. Timothy Nunn, Medical Director at CURE Ethiopia. “By supporting surgeries and expanding the spine program, we’re also training more surgeons so the impact will continue to grow.”
DEMONSTRATING THE LOVE OF JESUS
For Tim Tebow, this work is a response to God’s call—serving children through surgery while sharing the gospel with families.
“I’m passionate about kids with profound medical conditions because I think God is, and He’s asked us to say yes to helping the afflicted,” Tim says. “We can’t do this alone, but when believers come together and say yes to helping those who are hurting, we can make a huge difference.” .
continue for timeline of impact
Timmy’s Playroom makes healing fun.
13 years of impact 13 years of impact
2015 A NIGHT TO CELEBRATE EVERY CHILD
The first Night to Shine at CURE is hosted at Tebow CURE Philippines, launching a tradition now celebrated at six CURE hospitals as part of the 979 (and growing!) events held worldwide serving 100k+ children with disabilities each year.
2023
PROVIDING COMPLEX SPINE SURGERIES
So far, the Tebow Spine Center at CURE Ethiopia has provided 390+ surgical procedures for children with life-limiting spine conditions.
2014
A HOSPITAL OPENS - LIVES CHANGE
2021
FROM DIRT FIELD TO HEALING SPACE
next
The Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital opens in Davao City, Philippines, providing 15,000 surgeries (and counting!) to children in need.
Ground is broken for CURE Zimbabwe’s Tebow Care Center (opened in 2023), creating space for kids to recover, play, and hear they are loved. The partnership also begins sponsoring surgeries for children in Zimbabwe.
LOOKING AHEAD - HELP MORE KIDS HEAL
The partnership continues to grow, with plans to open a new Timmy’s Playroom at CURE Malawi and establish a Tebow Care Center children’s ward at CURE Ethiopia, helping more kids receive Christcentered care.
It’s so worth visiting a hospital because you can’t understand the impact of the mission any other way than seeing and feeling it for yourself.”
MARCIA MCINTYRE, CURE board member
& Up Close Journey Participant
Most journeys transform the mind. A CURE journey transforms the heart.
Visit a CURE hospital and be present where God is at work in the lives of children and families.
Scan here or visit cure.org/upclosejourneys to learn more.
HEAL THE SICK & PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Luke 9:2
CURE International is a Christian nonprofit organization that operates a global network of eight pediatric hospitals in Africa and the Philippines, providing world-class surgical and intentional ministry care for children living with treatable disabilities.
