Patient Stories Archive - Mercy Ships Suisse

Marie-Madeleine

When she was a child, Marie Madeleine developed an abnormally tight muscle contracture in her leg. Despite this difficulty, Marie Madeleine continued making the short journey to school, where she was determined to learn.

Story of Tene

Three-year-old Tene walked with an imbalanced gait. One of her feet was normal, but the other was comprised of an oversized ankle and foot. But a woman who saw her decided, she would do anything to help.

Story of Aicha

“When they removed the bandages, I saw my daughter as a woman for the first time” Fatmata said. “She was like a new person. She was dancing and laughing.”

Story of Mariama

Mariama was born with a facial cleft. Her parents are faced with difficult questions, and no one seems to be able to help…

Story of Dr Patricia

Dr. Patricia was aware that, even with the proper education, opportunities to turn her surgical dreams into a reality were rare in Cameroon. When she heard about the ophthalmic mentoring available on the Africa Mercy, she was thrilled to participate.

Story of Mercy

When 25-year-old Mercy arrived on the Africa Mercy to be seen by the screening team she was in a state of depression; on our hospital ship, she found hope again!

Story of Salamatou and Mariama

High up Mount Manengouba in Cameroon, through rocky terrain and lush foliage, lies the beautiful village of Bororos. The journey to Bororos consists of a steep, uphill horse ride surrounded by craggy rocks with only wildlife for company. But two little girls, sisters Salamatou and Mariama, had never left their village high in the hills of Cameroon because of their twisted legs.

Story of Paul Pascal

When he first arrived on the dock of the Africa Mercy cradled in his mother’s arms, Paul was a ghost of a baby. He was born with a cleft lip and palate that made it nearly impossible for him to nurse, and at just three months old he was slowly starving.

Story of Ulrich

Even experienced nurses on board the Africa Mercy had never seen a case quite like Ulrich’s. “Local surgeons wouldn’t even touch him,” Georgette recalls.

Story of Fanta

Fanta is a nurse. But her watermelon-sized tumour under her arm made it hard for her to wear the nurses’ uniform. As the tumour grew painfully large, she knew something had to be done. However, working in the local hospital only heightened her fears of having surgery.

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