When 13-year-old Ibrahim arrived at the Global Mercy™ in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the left side of his face was tremendously swollen, protruding well beyond the teen’s jawline. He had developed a simple toothache when he was 9 years old, but left untreated, the problem...

Children
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Every patient has a name, a face, and a story and Mercy Ships transforms their lives by providing free surgery and medical care.
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Children
Posts
The Boy with the Strong Spirit: Serigne’s Story
In a village in northwest Senegal, the name Serigne holds great significance. It resonates with leadership and authority. Many people and establishments proudly bear this distinguished name throughout the village, symbolising a belief in their potential for greatness....
Reuniting with Vanya, Years After Surgery
In 2015, in an operating room on board the floating hospital of the Africa Mercy®, the course of Vanya’s life changed. Until then, the 11-year-old had spent her childhood challenged by windswept legs that curved sideways. The condition – often caused by a combination...
Finding Light in the Darkness: Umu’s Story
Have you ever met someone whose eyes dance when they talk? That’s the very first thing everyone notices when they encounter 3-year-old Umu. Her aunt, Fatmata, has always been amazed by Umu's effortless ability to make friends, regardless of where she goes. “She’s a...
From Crewmember to Caregiver
Ngordy Sow was working as a national interpreter with Mercy Ships in his home country of Senegal when he received his next assignment. He was asked to care for a new patient, a young boy named Mamadou, who was on board the Africa Mercy® to receive surgery for a...
Meet Amadou, the First Patient to Receive Surgery on the Global Mercy™
The world’s largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship, the Global Mercy™ , is projected to serve 150,000 patients over the next five decades – and it all begins with Amadou, a 4-year-old with a windswept leg and bowed leg from southern Senegal. With an orthopaedic...