Hope for Healing

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