When Ellen arrived at the Nkhoma Hospital in 2006 she was only 3 years old. Clinicians did not know what do about her difficult case, she had severe gangrene in both feet as a result of malnutrition and reaction to poor standard malaria medication. She was found in the corner of a small room, with laboured breathing, skeletal appearance and in extreme pain.
Ellen needed both of her feet to be amputated in order to increase her chance of survival. After the amputations Ellen gradually improved; she was discharged, healed, but without her feet. Her grandmother took her in and carried her on her back for the next 4 years until an american school teacher helped Ellen get to school and to 500miles Prosthetic and Orthotic Centre at Kamauzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. Ellen now walks independently with her two artificial legs and is able to attend school every day. She is 8 years old.