by Brenda van Straten | Mar 14, 2022 | Patient Stories
Two years ago, when the Africa Mercy® sailed from Senegal, hundreds of patients were left still waiting for their chance for surgery. On February 1st, the ship returned to the port of Dakar to bring hope and healing to these patients and their families. Three weeks...
by Brenda van Straten | Feb 15, 2022 | Patient Stories
It was no surprise that 9-year-old Adam Zidane loved playing soccer. He was born on the same day as a 2009 Champions League match, and he was named after the famous French soccer player, Zinedine Zidane. Nothing brought his father, Abdoulai, more joy than watching his...
by Brenda van Straten | Dec 9, 2021 | Patient Stories
Young Mansare dashed around the dock, his frayed sandals flapping as he ran and his laughter bringing a smile to his mother’s face. “Look at him. Look at him walk,” his mother, Simone, said. “He can really play now. Before, he would get tired and come back after ten...
by Brenda van Straten | Dec 7, 2021 | Patient Stories
Yeabsira’s parents have always thought of him as their gift from God. Even if this gift came with a measure of grief. He was their first child, and he was born with Apert syndrome, which can impact the shape of the head and hands. For Yeabsira, this meant that his...
by Brenda van Straten | Dec 6, 2021 | Patient Stories
Ten-year-old Houssainatou lives in a town in the highlands of Guinea with her parents and her four siblings. If you ask Houssainatou, her childhood has been a happy one: she talks about playing jump rope with her friends, helping to take care of her little brother,...
by Brenda van Straten | Aug 16, 2021 | Patient Stories
Aliou is energetic, affectionate, and persistent. At 5 years old, this boy loves riding bikes, chasing bubbles, and dancing. Aliou is like most little boys — except for one thing. A fire left the young boy with third-degree burns on his right arm. With...
