Cyprien Mubiala - Hope Springs from Unspeakable Grief

  Cyprien Mubiala is a name that many should know in the future, though it is not unlikely that it could disappear. Rightly speaking, it should be enshrined in medical history right next to Dr. Muyembe's. These two men, along with others, through persistence and hope have been key in making the terrifying disease of ebola treatable. 

  At the end of last month, the Wall Street Journal ran an article entitled, "'Ebola is Now a Disease We Can Treat.' How a Cure Emerged from a War Zone." It is well worth reading. Many people have risked both suffering and death to fight against and seek to subdue the disease of ebola. Read how the disease ravages the body and the horrific suffering that those who contract the disease experience. Then, think of voluntarily risking your own life to care for those with this disease. Next, add the suspicions of those who need your help that you may actually be a danger to them. Finally, add the threat that comes from entering and operating in a war zone. In this context, Cyprien Mubiala and Dr. Muyembe step as two remarkable men.

PHOTO: CYPRIEN MUBIALA

 Unfortunately, though quite naturally given his status as a research patient, there is little public information about Mr. Mubiala. However, nearly 25 years ago, he lost 15 members of his family to ebola and contracted the disease himself. He survived as did his sister. He donated his blood to Dr. Muyembe for research, but then he turned around and spent months caring for other ebola victims, believing he was immune to the disease. Some years later, he again worked with researchers as they used his blood to try to develop a treatment. 

 Now he is married and has children, and he says he is happy to hear that a cure came from his blood. In many ways, his story is remarkable; in other ways, it is quite normal. Certainly, there is much to celebrate in this story, and an examination of the journey that Dr. Muyembe has taken would show another narrative or perseverance in the face of doubt and difficulty. 

 These stories are not remarkable only because they have led to a cure; they are remarkable in their own right. However, the cure highlights the fact that there can be temporal victories in the fight against death, disease, and despair. The fact that no one had defeated ebola previously did not mean that the battle was not still worth fighting: past failures do not necessitate future failure.