When Allison Leer first heard about Mercy Ships, she knew that this was the place she wanted to be. Only 17 at the time, she still had a lot of things to figure out in her life, but serving on a hospital ship in a distant land excited her.
“I think it was my mum who told me about Mercy Ships back then,” says Allison, now 29 years old. “I remember thinking, ‘I really want to use my medical training in a place like this’.”
More than a decade passed. In the meantime, Allison signed up to receive email notifications for vacancies on board the organisation’s hospital ships, the Global Mercy™ and Africa Mercy®. One day, she received an email saying a vacancy had opened on the Africa Mercy for a Radiology Technician – her field of expertise.
“I immediately started my application that same day because I had waited a long time for this,” Allison recalled. “The thought that I could use my career to help make a difference in the world is probably what motivated me the most about wanting to serve with Mercy Ships.”
Word of Allison’s travel plans spread quickly around her small hometown of Rugby, North Dakota – the most central location in continental North America.
“I had been saving up for this for years, but once my church and community heard of what I was doing with Mercy Ships, I received an overwhelming amount of support,” Allison said fondly. “Almost every day I was receiving cards in the mail. Even after I arrived on board, I was getting kind notes and donations from people back home. People in small communities where I live will often rally together to support each other and it is very special.”
Allison had held on to her dream of serving with Mercy Ships for 12 solid years. “At some point,” she smiled, “I probably sounded like a broken record to my family and friends for going on and on about my desire to serve with Mercy Ships.”
Allison was elated to finally be on the ship and to join a community where everyone “has a heart to serve.” She felt right at home once she arrived on board, even though she had never met anyone in person yet. She said the sense of community, where everyone looks out for one another, made her feel that she belonged. Everyone she met was friendly and nice, which helped her settle in easily, she said.
Working on a hospital ship comes with its own surprising quirks, of course. For Allison, that took a little time getting used to.
“Working on a land-based hospital is different as opposed to working on a ship,” she laughed. “On land, you know exactly what each area is called and where to find what. But on a ship, everything is referred to in maritime language — aft, portside, starboard side — instead of just saying ‘the front’, ‘the back,’ etc. So, I’ve had to do some adjusting to that.”
“Finding my way around the vessel during my first few days on board was so tricky,” Allison admitted. “It took some getting used to, but I really enjoy my time on board… It didn’t take me long to call the ship ‘home.’ I think it was the second day I was on the ship, after I had unpacked my things, I looked around at my cabin and said to myself ‘Okay, this is where I live. This is my home now.’”
She not only takes pictures of X-rays but also tells patients about her job and trains other crew how to take the X-rays.
“I have enjoyed being able to teach patients and crew about radiology. The look of amazement on people’s faces the first time they see the CT scanner, or the X-ray machine will never get old for me,” shared Allison. “Radiology is an exciting field of medicine, and I love when people are interested in what we do on the ship.”
As a Radiology Technician on a hospital ship, Allison had to develop new skills to manage equipment while the vessel bobs around on the water.
“Sometimes things move around a little bit while you’re trying to take a patient’s X-ray,” she explained, “This means we have to know how to take the images appropriately and, with time, you get used to all this.”
Having committed to serve on the ship for three months initially, she said she’s open to extending for a few more months if the need arises.
The hardest thing Allison had to get used to was being away from family – two brothers, one sister and her parents. This was the longest trip she’d ever been on, both in terms of the duration of her stay and the distance from home.
“I miss them all. I miss my family, my cat and dog which I left with my parents. But I also know that this is an opportunity for me to touch the lives of others, and I get to do something which many people regret not doing in their later years. That is, to use my gifts to help those who are sick.”
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