In January, a little boy and his uncle arrived on the dock
hoping that Mercy Ships could repair the damage to his face. At six years of
age he has already been rejected and shunned by many who believe he has an evil
spirit, yet he still has a smile and playful spirit like any other child. Mamadou* quickly won the hearts of all of the
nurses and hospital staff, including my own. Here is his story about a ravaging
infection called Noma.
Most of you have never heard about this horrifying flesh
eating bacteria because it is not a problem in the western world. Here in
Africa where some of the poorest people in the world live it is a real fear and
problem. There are many reasons this bacteria flourishes in impoverished areas including
a lack of nutrition which decreases the immune system. These children often
live near livestock and trashpiles while playing in refuse and dirt with no
access to clean, running water.
The story is similar with each of our Noma patients that at
a young age they fell and scraped their face while playing outside. The skin
became infected and parents watched in horror as their child’s face “melted
away.” This particular necrotizing bacteria targets the facial tissues of the
lips, mouth, cheeks, and nose particularly in children. It can be treated with antibiotics
within the first 48 hours; but if it passes this initial period there is
nothing that can be done except wait to see how much damage the infection
causes. Because it usually affects those living in the poorest conditions, they
do not always have access to healthcare or the knowledge of the critical window for these children to receive antibiotics. Without treatment 90% of children die from Noma.
So Mamadou’s story begins around the age of 2 when he fell
and scraped the left side of his face. Soon Noma ate away part of his lips and
cheek on the left side. Unfortunately soon after this event Mamadou’s father
died. When his mother remarried, the step-father believed Mamadou was cursed
and caused his father’s death. Thus his step-father did not want him.
Thankfully Mamdou’s uncle saved his life and has been caring
for him these past couple of years. His uncle brought him to the ship hoping that
Mercy Ships could transform Mamdou’s face so he wouldn’t continue to face the
rejection he has experienced from people including his own family. Mamadou is
currently in the middle of multiple surgeries as it is a long process to recreate
lips and cheeks with moving skin grafts around from different places. So far things are going well, and Mamadou is
currently at the Hope Center awaiting another surgery at the end of March.
Although Mamadou came to receive surgery to restore his
face, I hope that he receives something more. Love is what we hope to show to
all of our patients. It is God’s love that has motivated so many people to come
volunteer and even pay their own expenses or raise funds in order to be here.
So in a life where this boy has been rejected by so many, he entered a
different world on this hospital ship. There are many nurses who lovingly care
for Mamadou while blowing bubbles, chasing him on the deck, pulling him in a
wagon, or just kindly holding him. I hope that the love he has experienced here
will transform his life. I pray that it would undue all the shame and rejection
he has experienced. Even more than that, as I hope and desire for all of our
patients that eventually it will allow them to know and understand the love of
Jesus.
Mamadou’s story represents those of so many of our patients.
I have found so much joy in caring for Mamadou and other patients as I witness
the transformation process of bringing hope in healing. With Mamadou only being six years
old, the rest of his story is left to be written.
*Name has been changed for this story
Here are some pictures taken by Mercy Ships photographers:
Mamadou's face slowly being transformed |
Playing on deck 7 with a crewmember's child |
Piggyback ride while I work |
Watch Out: Mamadou will run you over |
Bubble time |
Mamadou's precious smile |
So beautiful! Emily, your smile radiates the love of Jesus and his smile is so, so sweet! I don't know how you can ever doubt that what you are doing there is being "Jesus with skin on!"
ReplyDeleteLove you lots,
Mom
Emily, how I love to read your stories. I am there....Wow! Penny
ReplyDeletelove this precious post - goodness, that child is PRECIOUS! and how sad to think the daddy missed out because he didn't know that it wasn't that his child was cursed. I just love seeing his smiles and him playing - truly like the person above said, you are Jesus with skin on to these precious people. And it does make me so grateful for clean water. goodness, i think about it often how HARD it would be to be a mom in a country without. and how grateful i am to be here - and how i want to steward it so well for my child, for the sake of the gospel to the nations. love love love, rachel
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