Kledi’s smiling now

Kledi endured tremendous pain and suffering throughout his childhood, and would not have lived much longer without intervention. Now, praise God, he has a life to look forward to.

When we first met Kledi, he was withdrawn, somewhat aggressive, and unwilling to communicate. This behaviour was his way of protecting himself, a shield against the fierce pain caused by his scoliosis and the prejudice he had faced throughout his life.

During an 8-hour journey with Kledi from Elbasan, Albania to Thessaloniki, Greece, we began to understand more deeply the suffering he faced every single day.

Kledi was constantly in pain. His breathing was heavy, rapid, and laboured. He could not remain in the same position for long, and he had no appetite, despite his sister’s gentle and persistent efforts to feed him with love and care… and yet, he never complained. But neither did he smile.

Before we travelled, Kledi met us with silence and a harsh gaze, one that seemed to belong to a weary adult rather than a 15-year-old boy. The more time we spent with him, the more we understood the physical, psychological, and spiritual battles taking place within such a fragile young life. Inside him was a silent fight for survival through pain that no one else could fully describe.

Our first visit with specialist doctors at St Luke’s Hospital in Thessaloniki, despite the excellent care provided to Kledi, deeply saddened us. The medical team revealed the harsh reality: Kledi should have undergone surgery years ago. Now his advanced condition meant his life was at serious risk. Not having surgery meant an inevitable painful death, but surgical intervention involved great risk.

The spinal deformity had begun to affect the development and function of his internal organs, including his lungs, which were operating at 40 percent capacity, at best. The medical team explained the serious risks: complications during surgery, potential damage to the nervous system, and even partial or total paralysis. The chances of success were 50:50, they told us.

The situation was far worse than we had imagined.

As we spoke with the doctors in English, Kledi stood among us, not understanding the language… yet he understood more than anyone the pain he had been living with for years. He may not have understood the words, but he felt the reality in every part of his being. We held back our tears and tried to smile in front of him. But he could sense it, the kindness that often hides pity, not the healing he longed for.

After a series of tests and evaluations, the decision was made: the surgery was urgent.

Many people began to pray; in churches, in their homes, and in their hearts. Others contributed financially and practically, making possible what was otherwise impossible for Kledi’s family.

On March 25^th, at 11am local time, Kledi entered the operating room. At around 5pm, the surgery was successfully completed. Those six hours felt like six days to his waiting family and friends, but the surgeons had hope for a postive outcome. What followed exceeded every expectation.

Kledi spent only 12 hours in intensive care. On the very first day after surgery, he no longer needed oxygen; his lungs had already begun functioning at around 80%. On the second day, he started to stand and take his first steps. In the following days, he was walking. After only 5 days, he was discharged from the hospital.

His recovery was nothing short of a miracle; a reality that amazed the doctors and filled all those who contributed to this journey with joy. As for Kledi, he firmly believes that only God could have made this miraculous path of healing and life possible.