Patient Stories

Valerie and Edith

Awa

With no means to pay for an operation, Awa had accepted living with her disfiguring cleft lip for the rest of her life. Her surgery on the Africa Mercy brings hope and healing not just to her, but to at least three generations of her family.

Charity

It had been eight years since 30-year-old Sylvester first saw Charity, with a shawl strategically draped across her face in an effort to hide the tumour growing down from her mouth.

Aicha

Every day, Fatmata brings little Aicha with her to the market, where they sit for hours selling oranges. Due to the cataracts clouding her vision, the sweet, impish two-year-old can’t see the colourful world around her — a fact that brings her family sorrow.

Mafoudiya

When Mafoudiya was born, her mother, Mabinty, was unable to truly enjoy her child’s bright eyes or sweet smile because of the worry that consumed her. Her daughter was born with a cleft lip, and the family had little access to medical help.

Salematu

It all started with a toothache. Salematu was 24 when she first noticed the pain in her mouth. As a first-year nursing student, she knew she should go to the dentist, but she was struggling. She had just lost her husband unexpectedly, leaving her with two young daughters. Money was low, and medical costs were high.

John Borrow

John Borrow never planned on being a full-time volunteer but when he first heard about Mercy Ships in the 1990’s, he knew it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. His long journey with Mercy Ships has taken Mr Borrow and his family from Belrose, NSW, around the world and since 2016 he has served as the Africa Mercy’s captain.

Samory

Samory never imagined that neglecting a toothache would result in a facial tumour that threatened to take away his dreams and his life. Four years after the toothache began, the once healthy 25-year-old was a shell of who he once was, as his tumour grew and his self-esteem deflated.