Fourteen-year-old Tera lives in a fishing village on the outskirts of Manakara, in southeast Madagascar. In his close-knit community, homes are built from parts of the traveller’s tree – branches form the walls, the trunk is used for flooring, and leaves make up the roof. Tera’s family share a modest home by the riverbank: his parents, three siblings, and grandmother all live under one roof.
“In our community, everyone fishes in the river or the sea using nets. No one here works in an office,” said Tera’s father, Justin.
It’s a village known for its deep sense of community. When a child is born, they are embraced by all as one of their own. Yet for much of his young life, Tera struggled to feel that sense of belonging.
Thirteen Years Barefoot
Tera doesn’t remember the accident that fused his foot to his ankle at just one year old—but he’s heard the story many times.
“My mum went to the toilet, and I was crawling. I knocked over the pot… The hot water spilt all over me. That’s how I got burnt,” he explained.
His parents recall how boiling water left him with severe burns on his legs. With no access to hospital treatment, they turned to three traditional healers in the hope of recovery. Sadly, their efforts couldn’t reverse the damage.
Tera’s burns eventually healed on their own, but left him with a burn contracture that made walking difficult and shoes impossible. For 13 years, he walked barefoot and couldn’t join his friends on the soccer pitch—especially painful for a boy who dreamed of playing goalkeeper.
“I like playing football, but they don’t really like me. I see my friends playing and I want to join in,” he said, eyes downcast. “I made a ball out of plastic, but they still rejected me. I walked away crying, feeling really sad.”
His mum Marie carried the weight of that sadness. So when volunteers from Mercy Ships told her about the chance for free surgery aboard their hospital ship, she didn’t hesitate. With baby Cedrick strapped to her back, she and Tera began a two-day journey to the Africa Mercy®.
Hope Aboard the Africa Mercy
Australian ward nurse Natasha Short was volunteering aboard Africa Mercy, where she’d seen a stark contrast between burn care in Madagascar and back home.
“In Australia, we treat burns early, so there’s less need for major surgery,” she said.
Natasha quickly connected with Tera. His warmth and joy stood out, despite all he’d been through.
“He’s so vibrant—so open with his happiness. From the first day, he shouted my name with a big grin every time he saw me,” Natasha smiled.
Tera’s long-awaited surgery was performed by South African reconstructive plastic surgeon Dr Tertius Venter, a long-time volunteer. In just two hours, Dr Venter released the contracture that had haunted Tera for most of his life.
“He should now have normal ankle movement. That means he can wear shoes and play sport again—especially football,” said Dr Venter.
Healing Through Friendship
During recovery, Tera bonded with another young patient, Martino. Their friendship grew so strong that when they were in separate wards, nurses would pass letters and organise video calls between them.
“I love you, Martino,” Tera would say at the end of each call.
Physiotherapist Theo Jacot noted the importance of family support: “Tera was really motivated when he saw his mum and baby brother cheering him on during rehab. I think he’s focused on playing football again—and one day, it’ll happen.”
When it was time to go home, the ward threw Tera a celebration. With his crutches, he danced and sang with his family, volunteers, and crew—a moment of pure joy.
A Bright Future
Tera’s parents once feared for his future. Now, his father speaks with pride.
“I’ve started taking him fishing. I put him at the front of the canoe and guide him. By the third or fourth day, he’ll be able to go on his own. He’s a quick learner,” Justin said.
Tera sees the change too. “Before, I couldn’t wear thongs. I had to walk barefoot, even when it was hot. Now, I can wear shoes,” he said, beaming.
“My friends don’t make fun of me anymore. We all play together now. I can do everything they can.”
And on one special day, in his treasured “number one” goalkeeper jersey, Tera finally took his place on the soccer field. The village watched and cheered as he played until sunset.
“Tera! Tera! Tera!”
Recent Comments