by Brenda van Straten | Oct 20, 2020 | Patient Stories
When Diacko was about three years old, his legs began to bow. Other kids made fun of him, and soon, even his own friends called him “the bowlegged boy.” It wasn’t until the arrival of the #AfricaMercy in Senegal that Diacko’s mom, Youma, began...
by Brenda van Straten | Sep 2, 2020 | Patient Stories
Upon first glance, one might mistake two-year-old Fatou (right) and her four-month-old brother (left) for twins. Born with a cleft palate, Fatou has had difficulty feeding and has not received the proper nutrition a growing baby needs. “I worried about what her...
by Brenda van Straten | May 19, 2020 | Patient Stories, Volunteer Stories
South African Physical Therapist Michelle White says that working for Mercy Ships has been on her radar since graduation. Now a reoccurring volunteer, Michelle shares that, “on the ship we are able to offer high quality treatment to patients – it is probably the...
by Brenda van Straten | Apr 7, 2020 | Patient Stories
Marie Madeleine is incredibly smart. In addition to speaking Wolof and French, this 13-year-old is learning English on top of her studies. She loves school, but there is one class she cannot participate in—physical education. As her classmates run around the yard,...
by Brenda van Straten | Jan 28, 2020 | Patient Stories
“When I was 12, I saw a woman on TV … her suitor had burned her with acid. Her face had become fused to her neck, so she could never look a person in the eye.” Dr. Odry Agbessi mimics the condition, tucking her chin in close to her throat. “There was not one plastic...
by Brenda van Straten | Jan 10, 2020 | Patient Stories
Before her tumor, Seny was studying economics at the University of Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. With goals to graduate and get a job in finance, the future looked bright for this highly intelligent young woman. Then, suddenly, a small bump appeared on the inside of...
