As you know we do the surgeries on board, but not only there. We do have 3 sites that we received from the government to use. They are usually buildings that needs a little fix-up first - but this is a good deal for us. We renovate them, use it as our secondary medical site and when we leave the government gets it back to us it as they see best.
In Salone the HOPE Centre and the Dental Clinic was in one building; only 3 min walk from the ship. Here in Lomé, we need to take a vehicle. With a little tour in each place it took me half a day to visit all 3 locations.
First we went to see the Eye-Team. They perform specialized surgeries to correct blindness due to pterygium and cataracts. They
also want to increase awareness about basic eye health issues and
reduce the impact of harmful UV radiation and the related incidence of
eye disease by distributing pairs of UV-blocking sunglasses and reading
glasses.
Each week they go to different locations to screen patients (this week they were in a church building) and schedule some for surgeries while we are in Lomé.
People line up outside of the gates and the pre-screening nurse checks to see
if they are eligible to pass through to the next screening.
Kelli, checking each persons eyes for potential patients, especially looking for those who have cataracts on both eyes
We work with lots of local translators who take the patients' details for us
These kids leave happily after they each received cool sun glasses
Eye test. Instead of letters we have shapes, since many who come to us don't know how to read.
Let me tell you these shapes are hard to memorize :) (speaking from experience)
At another station one of the local day workers checks if people need prescription glasses.
For fun he checked mine and according to him I need -0.75. :((((((
Innocent from Benin (yes, that's his REAL NAME!) is quick to give me a pair.
I can still read the board without the glasses,
but I have to admit it was easier with the glasses on.
Another day worker helps distributing eye drops to patients.
It's fun to walk around a market area in Africa. I love all the colours that capture my eyes everywhere I look. Here are just some pictures I took within a 10 min walk. Enjoy!
Husband fell in love with this painting so now it hangs on our wall
Husband himself is quite colourful :)
(I asked him to pose for me so I can take pictures of the things behind him)
Colourful underwear and/or bikinis in background,
freshly (??) slaughtered meat under dirty paper in foreground - only here! :)
A few weeks ago I posted a story of Radiatu with the title Yes, you will have surgery. We left off with her lying on the hospital bed after the surgery...
Well, this is how she looks today! :))) This is why I love working here!
Radiatu getting her final check - she's excited to go home!
This was Radiatu's first trip home since she left for the "Big White Hospital on Water"
It was emotional for distant family and neighbors to see the difference in Radiatu's face.
Radiatu starts crying as everyone around her is also in tears
Radiatu looks sad - she really misses her father - who died 1 month before surgery. He won't see her new face.
I don't know much of the background of these boys, I found these pictures on our shared drive, taken by the official photographer.
They are twins...
One is a fine, a bit maybe chubby boy with a cute smile...
The other has a cleft lip...
Same mother, same chances in the mother's womb, one tiny birth defect for one of them (which could be fixed with an easy and quick operation), that can endanger his life. It's often difficult to show the difference, sometimes it's hard to believe it's the same baby on the before-after pictures.
But with these boys... You tell me:
Our Infant Feeding Program help malnourished babies gain the much needed
weight before we can operate on them.Soon this little fellow will look just like his twin brother. :)
It's always hot in Africa!
Sadly I heard you guys might get snowed on this weekend - I hope not and you can enjoy a nice, warm day outside, looking for easter eggs while meditating what is it the we really celebrate...
(to my Norwegian friends, I hope you will be proud of me, without planning it I went to the library and picked up a murder ystery book for the weekend following good norsk tradisjoner :) )
Thank you to all who clicked on my blog this year! We just passed the 8000 mark so I updated the banner with Sibi, a cute little girl from Togo who had a cleft lip surgery and a funny wedding photo.
Hope you like what you read here. I really appreciate the feedback! Cheers, Reka
Some time ago I wrote about Abel, a boy whose legs grew in a way that prevented him from walking or having a normal life. But 2 years ago he got operated on board and was given new hope. Watch this short video before you read on!
Last month Abel and his dad came to visit the ship to do a medical follow up. Here is the story and some pictures. Enjoy!
He is still active in his
favorite hobby, playing soccer.
"Abel Dalome was beaming. He and his father, Koudjo, were enjoying a quiet moment together in the Mid-Ships Café onboard the Africa Mercy hospital ship. Just over two years had passed since Abel had received free medical care from Mercy Ships to correct a severe misalignment in both of his legs. In fact, both of his legs had turned completely backward at the knees. Now, Abel was back at Mercy Ships for a routine check-up. Koudjo was thrilled. He only had good news to report about his son’s progress. He disclosed that on the journey to the ship, Abel had declared, “I will tell them that my life is sweet!”
Koudjo described the amazing transformation in his son’s life. “Before Mercy Ships, we thought that our son would only know pity. We worried that he would not have a life to do something good. And everybody told us that this would never change. But Abel’s life did change. After Abel recovered from the surgery, there was a satisfaction I cannot describe. Now, Abel will go on to do many good things.”
At that moment, Abel’s face lit up with a wide smile as he watched a very special friend appear at his side. Nurse Anna Parthun had tended to Abel during his hospital stay in 2010. When Abel suffered from an infection in one of his legs, Anna showered Abel with even more care. “My mission was to get at least one smile out of Abel every day. The funny faces I drew on inflated surgical gloves always worked best!” she said with a smile.
Abel gave Anna a gift of her favorite fruit
Now, looking at such a grown-up boy, Anna took notice of the wonderful change in Abel. “He has a new confidence, and his personality is so bright. Just like other boys his age, he is outgoing and energetic. I am so grateful to see how readily he likes to smile. No more need for surgical balloons,” she observed with satisfaction.
Abel shared news with Anna about his activities since returning home after his surgery. “I am going to school, and I walk there all by myself. I am so happy for that. I go to my grandfather’s farm and to the market. I can do all of these things on my own,” he reported joyfully. Abel also confirmed that he was still active in his favorite hobby, playing soccer with his friends in the village.
Mercy Ships volunteer physiotherapist Joanne Gates then took Abel under her tender wing for his follow-up examination. “I examined Abel to determine the progress he has made since surgery. We are especially interested in assessing his strength, range of motion and quality of walking, as well as finding out if he is experiencing any problems. I was pleased that Abel had progressed so well within his limitations,” she explained.
Joanne also arranged for Abel to have x-rays taken of his legs to confirm that all had healed well internally. The x-rays were e-mailed to Dr. Frank Haydon, who had performed Abel’s surgery. Dr. Frank replied joyfully, “Abel’s x-rays look good. His protruding bone is just a product of the necessary surgery because there was such an extreme angulation in the femur. So, we have a very positive outcome here!”
Abel’s dear friend Anna was ecstatic. “Seeing Abel was the highlight of my service with Mercy Ships this time. To be here to witness how he has grown up is a blessing. And now, I know that, in every detail, Abel’s surgery is a permanent success. I thank God, in His grace, mercy and love, for these gifts,” she said.
Abel Dalome before orthopedic surgery in 2010.
As Abel and his father departed from the Mercy Ships HOPE Center, where they stayed for their follow-up visit, Koudjo spoke of how he has decided to show his gratitude for all that Mercy Ships has done for his son. “I bring people to Mercy Ships who need help. I brought one person with a tumor, and I will bring my sister’s baby who has a cleft lip. I do this in my own car and with no charge to them,” he explained.
Abel and his father, Koudjo, have many wonderful memories of their Mercy Ships journey to share. Koudjo is filled with gratitude that Abel’s life has been transformed through the free medical treatment offered by Mercy Ships.Koudjo has turned his gratitude into acts of compassion. With his help, others will experience the medical care offered by Mercy Ships, and their lives – like Abel’s – will become sweet again."
(by a ship writer)
In 2010, Abel Dalome underwent two surgeries to straighten his severely
misaligned legs. His father, Koudjo, was at his side throughout his
surgery and recovery.
Abel’s first post-surgery activity in 2010 was to join his friends in his village in a game of soccer.
