Ep 17. A Walk to Beautiful

"A Walk to Beautiful" is an emotionally charged episode of NOVA season 35 that explores the heartbreaking reality of what millions of Ethiopian women must endure due to the devastating childbirth injuries they suffer from. Every year in Ethiopia, thousands of women suffer from obstetric fistulas, a debilitating condition that leaves them incontinent and shunned by society. Fortunately, there is a place that offers hope and healing to these women. A maternity hospital in the highlands of Ethiopia gives these women a chance to receive the medical care they need to regain their dignity and their lives.

The episode first introduces us to some of the women who have been affected by the condition, including a young mother named Almaz, who has been suffering from obstetric fistula for over a year. We follow her journey as she and her husband travel to the hospital to receive treatment. We also meet women like Wubete, a 25-year-old who gave birth to a stillborn child after laboring for three days alone, resulting in severe birth injuries. Both women, along with many others, have been shunned by their communities and families and forced to live in isolation due to uncontrollable incontinence.

As the episode progresses, we see these women find hope and a new lease on life at the maternity hospital. The hospital staff is dedicated and determined to help each of these women regain control of their lives. We see the delicate and emotional journey these women go through as they receive treatment and undergo surgery to repair their injuries. We also see the incredible impact the hospital has not only on the women receiving treatment but also on their families and communities.

Through the stories of these strong and brave women, NOVA's "A Walk to Beautiful" sheds light on a critical global health crisis that is largely unknown. Through following their journey to recovery, we see what happens when women are denied the right to adequate medical care and how it can devastate whole communities. But we also get a glimpse of hope - of what can happen when access to treatment is provided and the resilience of the human spirit. This powerful episode is an emotional and inspiring journey that will stay with viewers long after it concludes.

In "A Walk to Beautiful," NOVA manages to tackle a difficult subject with sensitivity and grace, without shying away from exposing the harsh realities these women must endure. Instead, the episode serves as a call to action, encouraging viewers to learn more about the heartbreaking condition and the work being done to combat it. With unforgettable images and stories, "A Walk to Beautiful" is a moving testament to the inner strength and beauty of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity.