The video tells the story of a young Congolese boy, Badibanga, who was severely injured after being electrocuted while playing near an unsecured power station in Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo. A mission worker photographed Badibanga and sent the image to contacts in the United States, prompting a rapid response. Dr. Jeremy Goverman agreed to provide surgical care, and two American cities—through the Shriners, Mayor Tominino, and Catholic Charities—joined forces to secure visas, raise funds for flights, and coordinate his transport to the U.S. The narrative highlights the logistical challenges of moving a child out of the DRC, the fundraising and visa efforts, and the medical surgeries that offered Badibanga a chance at recovery. Interspersed are brief remarks from Badibanga expressing his wish to learn and go to school, underscoring his resilience and hope. The piece frames the whole effort as a story of compassion and collaboration across continents.
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This is a story of compassion. It's a story of two American cities working together to save a child.
What happened was he was playing, like, well, late one afternoon, about 6 PM, in the city in Kananga, playing hide-and-seek with some of his friends. And he went into a little, a little power station that didn't have any security on it, no door or anything. He was able to go in there. And he touched something that and got electrocuted, and one of my co-workers, another child actually died.
He was operated on a surgery suite that has open windows. Bugs on the windowsill. A lot of times there are no lights there. I know, I've been there. It's a— it survives only because of its big heart. So it is a miracle that this child survived that. This happened 2 years ago. A mission worker took a picture of Badibanga and sent it to Midge and Barb and Barb's husband. This was 2 years ago, and they started working. And one of the first people they called was Dr. Jeremy Government. And Dr. Guverman, you know, without hesitation said, yes, I'm going to help this child.
All right. The good news is, and you can tell them, I think that with— we can— we'll be able to help him a lot with some— with just a few surgeries. We can make a huge difference for him.
He doesn't talk very much, but he seems to understand What's going on?
What does he seem to have liked the most about coming to America? It's a beautiful country.
Welcome back.
Ah?
Welcome back.
Bokulong kalas kumanyumujum.
Oh, well, he would like to— he would like to go to school.
He'd like to learn.
This is a story of compassion. It's a story of 2 American cities working together to save a child. We had to get visas to get out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is no small feat. That was very, very difficult. We did it. We raised money. We raised money for flights. We raised money for visas. And then doors just started opening. The people, the connections to get this child here is just—
it really is really nothing short of a miracle.
So I can't say enough about the Shriners and their commitment to this child. The mayor, Mayor Tominino, opened the door. He got the Catholic Charities involved.
I guess now that he's here, it's been a long time in the making.
