From the moment Abubakarr took his first steps, it was clear no shoe would ever fit his
feet. Running, jumping, and slipping on shoes are second nature for most children. But
for 6-year-old Abubakarr from Sierra Leone, these simple joys were out of reach as he
was born with an extra toe on each foot.
But Abubakarr’s spirit has never been confined by his condition; he is sharp, playful, and
exudes the natural confidence of a leader.
Abubakarr comes from the northern town of Kabala, where he lived with his parents
until his mother fell ill and sadly passed away. He was just five years old when his
grandmother Adama stepped in to raise him.
“He always hugs me when I get home,” Adama shared about her grandson’s loving
nature. His aunt, Muminatu, added with admiration, “Abubakarr is a smart kid, fun to be
around, and welcoming. He has a good heart and he’s very friendly.”
Surrounded by love, Abubakarr’s vibrant personality has flourished. Despite facing
physical challenges since birth, the warmth and care from his family helped him grow
into a boy full of hope and resilience.
When Feet Don’t Fit
For young Abubakarr, shoes were a painful reminder that he was different. The sight of
his friends lacing up their shoes often brought him to tears. “When he sees them
wearing shoes, he comes to me, crying,” Adama shared. “He says, ‘Grandma, look at all
my classmates wearing shoes but I can’t.'” She could see the burden he was carrying
on his small shoulders. “I wasn’t happy. He was different among his classmates, which
led to some kids provoking him.”
At his school, black closed shoes were part of the uniform. But for Abubakarr, this was
out of the question; his feet couldn’t squeeze into any regular pair. “He could only wear
sandals,” Muminatu explained. “His friends were calling him names.”
It wasn’t just the sandals that set him apart—Abubakarr struggled to run like the other
kids. “When he tries to run, his feet knock against each other and he falls,” Adama
explained. “Even during school sports, he would be eager to join—but, the moment he
starts running, he trips and falls.”
To help him fit into footwear, his family got creative. They bought foam shoes and
carefully carved openings with a knife to make space for his extra toes.
When Protection Sparks Possibility
Muminatu couldn’t stand by any longer and watch her nephew be ridiculed. Whenever
someone called Abubakarr names or made cruel comments, she would jump to his
defense—fueled by fierce love and a deep desire to protect him.
It was during one such confrontation that a new path opened. “Someone called
Abubakarr ‘fowl-foot’ and I got so angry, I confronted them,” she recalled. “That’s when
Binta (a neighbor) approached me and said, ‘Mercy Ships is coming back—take
Abubakarr there.'”
Binta spoke from experience. Her 8-year-old daughter had received life-changing
orthopedic surgery on board the Global Mercy™ during the ship’s earlier visit to Sierra
Leone. “I was happy to tell other people about Mercy Ships because of their good work
for my child.”
Binta instantly connected with Abubakarr’s story. “I was feeling sorry for him,” she said,
“I had a child that was having a problem, so I know how people were laughing and
provoking my child.”
Encouraged by Binta’s testimony and determined to give Abubakarr a chance at a better
future, Muminatu registered him for surgery. This decision sparked new hope for the
little boy who just wanted to wear shoes and run like the other kids.
One Step Closer to Healing
On board the Global Mercy, Abubakarr was diagnosed with polydactyly— a congenital
condition where a child is born with extra fingers or toes.
Volunteer Plastic Surgeon Dr. Tjeerd de Jong from the Netherlands explained that, in
countries with advanced healthcare systems, cases like Abubakarr’s are typically
corrected in early childhood. He noted that in contrast, Sierra Leone has limited access
to surgical care and “the availability of this care is very hard to find here.”
Without treatment, Dr. de Jong warned that the challenges Abubakarr already faced
would likely persist. “The toe would stay, but so would the stigma. It would be hard for
him to find friends or start a family if people don’t accept him.” Wearing closed shoes
would also still remain nearly impossible for Abubakarr.
But with surgery, the outlook was much brighter. “It will make a big difference,” Dr. de
Jong shared. “I expect him to be able to go back to school and wear normal shoes and,
hopefully, find friends.”
Finally, Abubakarr underwent a 90-minute operation that would change the course of
his young life.
The significance of the procedure was not lost on his family. “The first time they
removed the bandages and I saw Abubakarr’s feet, I was so happy,” his aunt Muminatu
beamed.
New Feet, New Possibilities
Abubakarr’s rehabilitation lasted two weeks and focused on helping him regain strength,
balance, and mobility through targeted exercises and playful therapy sessions.
“Abubakarr did really well after surgery,” said Louise Matthews, a volunteer physical
therapist from South Africa. “We got to watch him take his first steps in what we call
‘Darko shoes’—special boots we use for kids recovering from polydactyly surgeries. His
recovery just kept getting better.”
On his discharge day, Abubakarr shared his excitement: “I’m happy that I’m leaving
today. When I get home, I will be helping my granny.”
Before they left the Global Mercy, the Communications team had one final surprise: a
brand-new pair of shoes, just for him! “I received a new shoe today and I am happy.
This is my first time wearing a shoe,” Abubakarr proudly declared.
His grandmother Adama emotionally recalled his homecoming. “The moment he spotted
me, he came running and hugged me. And the first thing I looked at was his feet.”
Today, Abubakarr is thriving. “He runs, plays football with friends, and doesn’t fall
anymore,” said Adama. Looking ahead, Muminatu holds big dreams for her nephew: “I
want Abubakarr to become someone great—someone others can look up to.”
And as for Abubakarr? “I can go to school now and nobody will laugh at me,” he said
with a smile. One short 90-minute procedure changed this 6-year-old’s life forever.
