Both Madushi and Mithushi suffered from congenital scoliosis (abnormal lateral curvature of the spine). With the assistance of Tzu Chi Foundation, the Sri Lankan girls went to Malaysia in early July for treatment and both had successfully undergone surgery to correct their spines. On August 30, the girls bid farewell to the Malaysian Tzu Chi volunteers to return home. Back home, relatives and neighbours have been preparing a “Welcome Home Celebration” to celebrate the beginning of a new life for the girls. Picture:A Photo of Brother David Liu with Madushi and Mithushi together with friends and relatives in front of Madushi’s house.

Friends and relatives with their traditional costume danced to the music to celebrate Mithushi and Madushi’s homecoming.

Hand in hand, they’ve pulled it through. Madushi (left) and Mithushi cut the cake together and blessed themselves a healthier and smoother future.

After being away from home for close to two months, finally, on August 30, it’s time to go home for Mithushi and Madushi!

With compassion and great love from Tzu Chi volunteers, the girls accompanied by their mothers arrived in Malacca, Malaysia on July 10 for treatment.  We could still remember the mixed emotions of their mothers through the treatments while adapting to the new environment since their arrival in Malacca. Fortunately with the company of Tzu Chi volunteers, they were able to set their minds at ease and even became friends to each other.

When Mithushi, the second to undergo the surgery, was discharged from the hospital on 11 August, it signifies the successful conclusion for the two cases. More than a week later on 30 August, after sufficient rehabilitation, 9-year-old Mithushi and 15-year-old Madushi bid goodbye to the Malaysian volunteers to return home to Sri Lanka.

Welcome Home!

At around 6.40pm on 31st August 2008, in the company of the volunteers, the girls and their mothers arrived home at Hambantota, a district about 220 kilometers south of the capital. We drove slowly into an alley leading to Madushi’s place. Before we arrived, there’re already dozens of villagers waiting outside the house to welcome the girls’ homecoming.

We stopped somewhere near to Madushi’s house. When Madushi and Mithushi got off the vehicle, the crowd burst into huge clapping and cheering with relatives coming forward to embrace the girls and their mothers, giving them their warm blessings and welcoming them home.

The neighbors even brought their traditional musical instruments and soon the crowd went all singing, all dancing celebrating Madushi and Mithushi’s new life. Children in local costumes danced trippingly towards Madushi’s house; the atmosphere was simply jovial!

The sky was almost dark when the entourage reached the house. Standing under the dim lights commonly seen in rural areas, we were frequented by the flying insects attracted to the light.

Rows of chairs were arranged neatly in front of the house with delicate snacks and pastry served on the tables. It seemed that the relatives and neighbors of the family have secretly planned this to give the girls a big surprise.

An occasion full of gratitude & well-wishes

“Thank you Master Cheng Yen and Mr. David Liu (CEO of Tzu Chi Malacca & Singapore), and also the blessings from Tzu Chi volunteers; it’s because of you the girls can go for surgery and had their lives changed.” Speaking in Singhalese, Madushi’s uncle briefly explained the treatment process to the villagers and expressed his gratitude to Tzu Chi.

As he finished his speech, local Tzu Chi staff Hansika appeared suddenly from his back with a big birthday cake that writes “Happy Birthday, Mithushi & Madushi” on it. The cake was specially made for the girls by the teachers and students from the job training centre near to Tzu Chi Great Love Village.

Warmth & Friendship

The guests looked on with blessings as Mithushi and Madushi made their wish. As the girls cut the cake after blowing off the candle, they applauded and cheered to the new chapter of life laid in front of the girls.

On request of Brother David Liu, a picture was taken with Madushi and Mithushi together with friends and relatives in front of Madushi’s house to witness the successful cross border medical assistance case carried out for these two Sri Lankan girls.