A speech and language session

The following little situation made me laugh so much but I could have cried just as easily! We have 2 little girls, 7 and 9 in beds next to each other. The younger 'Blessing' has been in the hospital for a long time having a skin flap created in order to use to reconstruct part of her face, due to it being destroyed by a flesh eating disease called 'noma'. It is a condition which can be treated early with antibiotics, but if not, can cause the flesh to be destroyed and eaten away. The older child 'Kadiatu' had a hole in her palette. This has been reconstructed, but she too had been in the hospital for a long time. They have built quite a friendship.
Blessing has to do intense physio (mum is very strict, they are up at 5.30 am starting every day!!), and she also does schoolwork. Kadiatu has to do speech and language therapy because she essentially has to re-teach herself how to speak and swallow.
Picture it... mammas asleep midafternoon (under the beds, blankets over heads!), Blessing and Kadiatu on one bed, cross legged opposite each other, Blessing has her book for 'sounds' in her hand. Then begins the session, Blessing says a word, kadiatu repeats, Blessing corrects her, Kadiatu tries again. Wrong again, Blessing raises her voice, Kadiatu tries again, Blessing repeats in a muffled voice...and this goes on and on for at least 5 minutes. they begin hysterically laughing as they realise Blessing can't pronounce things properly because she can't manipulate her lips, and Kadiatu can't yet quite get her 'new mouth' to do what she wants. Neither are saying things quite right!
But the voices get louder and they try harder. It was a precious moment, one that will stick in my mind as 'determination'. One of the girls went home today,proud as punch, with a whole different life now ahead of her.