When Elvianne’s mother laid eyes on her newborn baby, her fourth child, she was taken aback by her appearance. The baby was very small and had a cleft lip and palate.
“Will she survive?” The young mother asked herself.
Despite the uncertainty, she remained hopeful for her child. She named her Elvianne, hoping that not only would she survive, but that one day she could proudly say she had been named after her own mother.
Difficulties arose immediately after birth, as Elvianne could not suckle properly due to her condition. Not being able to feed her baby and watching her lose weight at this early stage in her life was heartbreaking.
“When I gave birth to her, it was really tough because I couldn’t even breastfeed,” Elvianne’s mother recalled.
She cried out to God: “How am I supposed to take care of this child? You’re the one who formed her in my womb.”
Elvianne’s mother tried different solutions, including feeding her baby condensed milk, but nothing seemed to help. In the community, the situation raised concern, and many feared the worst.
“People in my village expected my baby to die quickly because she was very small and had that condition. They knew I couldn’t breastfeed her, so they said she would die,” she recalled.
God Heard My Prayer
Elvianne’s mother has always been able to count on the support of her close circle, especially her mother and a dear friend. It was this friend who heard about Mercy Ships on the radio and helped the mother and her baby travel to the patient registration center.
“I am so grateful that we found Mercy Ships. God heard my prayer and sent me this ship to help me with my problem. I hope my baby will be like other babies,” she said.
Once they arrived on the Africa Mercy®, Elvianne first entered a nutritional program supervised by a dietitian. Two months later, the difference was evident. Her hazel eyes had regained their sparkle, and her skin its radiance.
“She has changed a lot,” her mother said. “She smiles, she plays, recognizes things. She was not like that before.”
The baby and her mother’s cheerfulness spread to everyone they encountered in the wards and at the HOPE Centre, reflecting the resilience that had marked their journey.
The repair of Elvianne’s lip and palate by volunteer surgeons restored more than her appearance. It also gave her the ability to feed properly, and when the time comes to talk, she will be able to learn normally, just like any other baby.
“The first time I saw her after the surgery,” Elvianne’s mother recalled, “I wondered if it was really her, because I was so used to seeing her with her cleft lip before. I couldn’t believe it at first. It took me three days to fully realise it was real. When it finally hit me, I was so happy, I even cried.”
Finally, mother and daughter returned to their village, relieved that the dire comments of the past no longer defined their future. Elvianne’s new smile now speaks for itself.
Stories like Elvianne’s are possible because of volunteers from around the world. Learn how you can serve with Mercy Ships.
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