Reconstructive
surgery
for Naserry

Despite the challenges, Salamatu never stopped believing in Naserry’s potential. She continued to dream big for her niece, even though the burn contractures made everyday tasks difficult. School became a struggle, both physically and socially. Other students teased Naserry for having just one fully functioning hand, which often made her hide her arm to avoid the stares and whispers. “At lunch, I don’t go out to play,” Naserry would say, opting to stay inside to escape the teasing.

The Impact of Limited Access to Surgical Care in Sierra Leone

If Naserry had access to surgical care immediately after her accident, her situation might have been different. Dr. Gracious Sankhulani, who later assisted with Naserry’s surgery on the Global Mercy™, explained that early intervention could have prevented the need for surgery altogether. But in Sierra Leone, where 75% of the population lacks sufficient access to surgical care, Naserry’s family couldn’t get her the treatment she needed. Instead, she lived with limited use of her dominant arm for nine long years.

Yet, Naserry and her family refused to give up hope. Salamatu, who had seen a neighbor’s hand healed when the Africa Mercy® visited Sierra Leone in 2011, was determined to find a way to help her niece. She moved Naserry to her home in Freetown, where they waited for the ship to return.

A Life-Changing Opportunity Aboard the Global Mercy

In 2023, their patience paid off. Mercy Ships returned to Sierra Leone with its new floating hospital, the Global Mercy. Naserry was the first female patient to board, and the surgical team quickly got to work. In just two hours, they repaired her burn contractures. The next two months involved intense physical therapy, during which Naserry’s confidence soared as she began to regain the use of her arm.

“People used to laugh at me… No more laughing at me again—I won’t be teased and provoked anymore,” Naserry declared. Her infectious happiness left a mark on everyone around her, including Dr. Sankhulani, a surgeon from Malawi. “You can see the brightness of her face. How she’s doing now—it’s quite fascinating… You can see the impact,” he shared.

Naserry’s Bright Future

As she prepared to leave the Global Mercy, Naserry was amazed at her newfound ability to move her right arm freely for the first time in nearly a decade. “Sometimes, I even ask myself if I’m in a dream, but I know I’m not dreaming. It’s reality.”

Now fully healed, Naserry is back home and thriving in school. Her dreams of becoming a lawyer are once again within reach, and her joyful spirit continues to brighten every room she enters. Naserry’s story is a testament to resilience and the life-changing power of accessible medical care.