Helping hands

With deep amber eyes and a smile that is quick to come and slow to leave, little Tene captured Mariam’s heart immediately. She watched the child playing for a while before she noticed Tene’s imbalanced gait and uneven feet. One was normal, but the other was comprised of an oversized ankle and foot. She would later learn that this condition was caused by an amniotic band — thin strands of tissue that wrap around forming body parts during pregnancy, restricting blood flow and affecting limb growth.

According to Dr. Tertius Venter, a volunteer plastics reconstructive surgeon onboard the Africa Mercy, when treated soon after birth the condition can be cured with a relatively simple surgery. The longer it’s left untreated, however, the more complicated it becomes and can even result in the loss of a limb. “I was really sad … It was my first time seeing this kind of sickness,” Mariam said. “She’s just a baby.”

Deciding to search for a way to help Tene, Mariam began asking around at local hospitals to see if there was anything that could be done.

Before long, an answer came. News of the upcoming arrival of the Africa Mercy spread through Guinea, and Mariam set out to connect Tene with the ship — hoping for a miracle for the young girl.
Despite not speaking the same language, Mariam brought Tene and her mother, Saran, into her home, only a few kilometers from where the Africa Mercy was docked. Just weeks later, Tene came onboard and received an operation to remove the amniotic band and cut away the swollen tissue.

After surgery, Tene’s foot began to gradually shrink back to normal proportions. Through regular rehab exercises, her clunky gait slowly grew into the confident walk of a curious three-year-old. Months later, she was able to wear a pair of regular tennis shoes for the first time in her life. Saran and Mariam watched on with pride.

Their dreams that Tene would grow up to be healthy and happy once felt far out of reach — but now, thanks to a hospital ship and the many helping hands behind it, they’re close enough to become reality.

With her leg healed, Tene will be able to begin school with her peers and grow up to put her curious brain to good use. She’ll be able to walk on two sturdy feet, run races without holding back, and enjoy a childhood free of the limiting condition that once contained her.

After several months of healing, Tene returned to her village where she met her baby sister, who’d been born while Tene was on the ship. The newest addition to Tene’s family was named Mariam as a reminder of the kindness that they had seen.