Melissa Giebel is an American residing in Nigeria. 18 years ago she came across an abandoned Nigerian named Paul Anejado. Paul was ill, with bacteria eating away his left leg. Melissa adopted Paul – fast forward, Paul is now a medical doctor. The social media has been abuzz with the story of Melissa and Paul. Hear her:
Guys! I am so excited! This last week my “adopted” brother became Dr Paul.

Our family first met Anejodo Paul in a small remote village in central Nigeria about 18 1/2 years ago.

I remember my heart breaking when I saw this kid under a tree swatting flies away from the raw and open tissue on his leg that had been caused by a flesh eating bacteria.

Many months later, through the kindness of a donor in the U.S., he was brought to the SDA Hospital in Ile-Ife for treatment of his buruli ulcer related disease and complications.

Over a year later, he came home to live with our family so that, at 13 years of age, he could start school. Did I mention he was 13 and starting first grade?

And this week, he got the news that he has passed his final medical school exams.

Thanks to MANY miracles from God, the medical care provided by doctors at the SDA Hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, the support of many who contributed to cover his school fees, and other needs through the years, his own persistence in spite of many obstacles, he is now Dr. Paul!

We are all so proud of you, Paul! And I can’t wait to see where God continues to take you on this crazy journey he has had you on.

Paul was abandoned with life threatening ailment now a medical doctor