FACEBOOK SAVED MY LIFE

Thank you, Mark Zuckerberg! Let me tell you how you saved the life of Befekadu, an Ethiopian orphan.

Befekadu is simply an amazing fellow. He had a progressive, severe spinal deformity (scoliosis) since he was a small boy. Doctors told him there was no treatment available anywhere.

At the age of 15, when he was in 8th grade, both parents died. This left him as the sole support of his sisters - Lamerot, 8, and Ayalnesh, 6. Befekadu stayed in school, but also worked full-time as a timekeeper and storekeeper for a local construction enterprise. Till this day they live in a simple rented house with dirt floors and 2 light bulbs, paying 25 US cents rent per month.

Befekadu graduated in the top 20% of his high school class, then moved to Addis Ababa and studied public administration at Addis Ababa University, the Harvard of Ethiopia! And all that time, he was the sole support of his sisters.

On Jan 30, 2010, Dr. Rick was walking in the street near Addis Ababa University and saw Befekadu walking on the roadside. He saw Befekadu’s spinal deformity and told him “I think I can change your life,” and asked him to join us in clinic. We diagnosed a spinal angle over 180 degrees, and a 75% reduction in lung function. At the time, we were not yet using long-term traction. He did not return for follow-up.

Several years later, we found Befekadu’s medical records and realized that he’d be a great candidate for ambulatory traction. But none of his phone numbers were working. This was a life-and-death situation. Reading his social history, we noted that he was a university student. We turned to Facebook, and within an hour, we located his Facebook page! We found that Befekadu lives in a small city, 2 1/2 hours north of Addis Ababa, and was working in a government transport office. We sent him a Facebook message. Within days, he was in our office for reevaluation.

He worked overtime to save money to support his sisters in his absence. He flew to Ghana 5 years ago for 9 months of traction, followed by corrective surgery. He commented:  “Without Facebook, I’d be without hope.” So, Mark Zuckerberg – thank you for Facebook!

Letter from Befikadu

To: Dr. Rick Hodes 

Dear Dr Rick,

As you know, I was living a miserable life when you met me. I was underweight - 81 pounds (37 kilograms), and was living with only 25 percent lung capacity – at 8000 feet altitude. I had to stop and catch my breath all the time. I frequently visited hospitals due to my debilitating ailment. Nobody could help me. I also had eating difficulty and low appetite because my stomach was crushed by my curved spine. 

At that time, I was a university student. You spotted me on the road and examined me at your clinic at the Catholic Mission. You told me that perhaps you could help in the future. I graduated, still struggling with my miserable health. After graduation, I found a job at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. However, I left that job due to my health and family situation. I found another job in my hometown of Debre Birhan, where I could live at home and help my sisters. 

Then – surprise! One day I got a message on Facebook asking me to contact you. I phoned you in clinic, and you asked me to come down to Addis Ababa to be reexamined. You explained that FOCOS Hosital in Ghana had started doing ambulatory traction, and I was a candidate. 

Months later, I flew to Ghana. I had 9 months of traction, followed by 10 hours of surgery. Afterwards, I was a new boy.