In January 1971, six-year-old Mir Hossain was brought by his mother to the Christian Hospital at Chandraghona. He was a burns victim, unfortunately an all too common occurrence, with severe skin contractures on his neck and right arm.
The decision was taken to operate and, after persuading his mother to agree, a long procedure began. The treatment would require five operations, with several weeks between each stage. It included taking skin from Mir’s stomach and attaching it to his arm, then from his arm to his neck, and finally spreading the graft over the neck.
The first operation came at the time when the trouble broke out in the country. The announcement of a newly formed independent republic of Bangladesh had led to a War of Liberation, with many atrocites reported, and threats to the survival of the hospital.
Many missionary families had been evacuated, and Mir’s mother was becoming extremely concerned that her son would be left in this desperate state if the doctors left. Dr Whitty recounted her worries: “Here was Mir with his arm attached to his tummy. If he had to go home what would the local people have said? “You took him to Chandraghona to get his neck fixed and all they have done is to attach his arm to his tummy.” How relieved his mother was when she realised we were not leaving."
The next stages of the operation were carried out under periods of considerable stress, but the grafts ‘took’ well, and after a few months Mir was able to close his mouth and looked like he had a chin again.
Through all this time Mir and his mother had listened to the Christian message. Dr Whitty commented: “I think this little boy will remember a lot of what he has heard and seen, and recall the demonstration of Christ’s love in the healing ministry of the hospital, and this can traverse any barriers.”