They Feared Their Child Would Die And Then A Stranger From Around The World Stepped In
July 12, 2021
A large facial tumor threatened to starve or suffocate 5-year-old Nagalem Haile. But then a stranger from far away came to the rescue!
Not long after Nagalem Haile's birth, a facial tumor began developing on her jaw. And as the little girl grew, so did the vascular malformation.
RELATED: God Uses Christian, Muslim, & Jew to Save A Little Boy With Facial Tumor
Nagalem and her family live in a small village in Ethiopia. Therefore, the necessary medical treatment wasn't available to her. So, the mass just continued growing larger and larger. And as a result, the little girl hid at home, refusing to go outside.
But the huge lump was more than just a physical deformity. It became a more serious threat to the little girl's life with each passing day.
For starters, the facial tumor limited Nagalem's ability to breathe and swallow. And if left unchecked, the poor child would "soon suffocate or starve." Another huge risk came from the multitude of blood vessels running through the huge mass. This meant if anything nicked or ruptured the growth, Nagalem could bleed out in minutes. Something as simple as a minor cut on the playground could have dire consequences.
If no one stepped in to help, Nagalem's vascular malformation would inevitably claim her life. But God made a way to save this sweet child!
Doctors Come Together To Remove Facial Tumor
A government official all the way from the United States ended up meeting Nagalem Haile during a mission in Ethiopia. This led to a massive search looking for doctors willing to perform the complicated and risky surgery needed to remove the facial tumor.
Dr. Milton Waner is one of the surgeons who answered the call. And with the help of Waner Children’s Vascular Anomaly Foundation, Heal the Children, USAID and Northwell Health, Nagalem would receive the life-saving surgery she so desperately needed, for free!
The Good Samaritans determined to help flew Nagalem and her father, Matios Alafa Haile, to New York City. There, they prepared them for the delicate 12-hour surgery required to remove the huge mass. And the procedure came with lots of risks.
RELATED: Stranger Funds Surgery For Boy With Deformed Face
"This type of surgery is very difficult, very dangerous and certainly life-threatening," Dr. Waner said. "We explained what would happen to the child's father. There was a possibility she may not make it."
Life-Saving Surgery Changes Everything
Nagalem's medical team took painstaking care to remove the facial tumor. The many connected nerves and arteries meant even the slightest nick could cause paralysis or severe blood loss. But God guided the surgeons through the procedure and the operation was a complete success!
Matios Alafa Haile and the rest of Nagalem's family will forever be grateful to the many doctors and strangers who helped save Nagalem's life.
“God bless you," Matios said after the surgery. "Without you guys it wouldn’t be like this. Thank you so much.”
But Matios also gives God the glory for this medical miracle.
"I was crying before but now I'm smiling so thanks to God," he said. "She is like different after surgery. She is playing enjoying everything outdoors. There is a big difference. May God bless the doctors, without them this wouldn't be like this."
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Doctors Said This Unwanted Baby Would Die, But God Sent A Miracle
"My God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
WATCH: Little Girl Gets A 2nd Chance After Doctors Remove Giant Facial Tumor
LISTEN: Baby Girl Defies Expectations And Survives To Cuddle Her Twin Brother In Sweet Photo | Man’s Cat Went Missing And Then Reappeared 15 Years After Vanishing
h/t: People
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Vascular Birthmark Institute
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Past Stories
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.