The Joy of Mobility

In 2019, Mariam suffered a double stroke, leaving her partially paralyzed on her right side. Her husband became her primary caregiver, staying by her side and carrying her wherever she needed to go.

But it wasn’t easy. He struggled to carry her on the rough terrain of their village, and he constantly worried about her safety — afraid that one wrong step might cause them both to fall.

All that changed when Mariam received a new wheelchair from one of our local distributions.

The moment she was lifted into the wheelchair, Mariam couldn’t hide her joy — and neither could her husband. "This was the first time Mariam smiled and burst into laughter ever since she was hit by the stroke," her husband beamed.

Now, Mariam and her husband have more peace of mind. He can easily push her wherever she needs to go, without the fear of accidentally dropping her. More than anything, they look forward to going to church together again.

"May God bless WWF abundantly," said Mariam’s husband, "and may He give them strength and resources to continue serving the less fortunate."

Mariam’s story reminds us that love is shown through actions, not just words. The love her husband has for her is evident in the way he cared for her and the joy he expressed when she first felt joy again. And when we give someone like Mariam the gift of a wheelchair, it is an expression of love — of God’s love for them, of our love for God, and of our love for others.