During our surgical screening in Ganta, we saw Jonathan, 3 ½ years old, who had a severe head wound which will require daily dressing changes until he comes with his father James to Monrovia for plastic surgery. Steven, the nurse, did his dressing change for that day and I just sat with Jonathan and kept praying and saying ‘you are a brave boy’ as I could sense that is was very painful – allowing him to squeeze my finger when it hurt, like my Mom did with me when I was young.
Ganta Screening Jean w /Sam
During our surgical screening in Ganta, here is our first patient, Sam being head by my friend Jean Campbell, our healthcare manager. Sam sat quietly on the lap of his young mother with a large cleft lip. He was exactly the patient we were looking for and will be coming next month for surgery here on board the ship.
Ganta Screening
From our surgical screening in Ganta – Ans, from the Netherlands, is talking with this mother and her daughter who came seeking medical assistance. Both of them will be coming to Monrovia for the daughter’s surgery.
Driving Land Rover to Ganta
I joined our surgical screening team as we went to the north to the city of Ganta in search for maxillo-facial patients. I got to drive most of the way on roads like this and worst and better.
Nathaniel Baker
I met Nathaniel Baker last year through the Adopt-A-Patient program and have spent much time with him while in the hospital wards. He is from Harper, Maryland, Liberia which is far from Monrovia. He had a large tumour in his jaw and so they removed the tumour and the front of his jaw. He came back two weeks ago for his final maxillo-facial surgery – taking bone chips from his hip and places the bone chips in his jaw around the previously inserted metal bar, which will regrow and re-establish his jaw bone. I prayed with him today as he prepared to leave – he said ‘I am happy and thankful.’
VFM Group Photo on the m/v Africa Mercy
This is the group photo of the children/teens and staff of Victorious Faith Refuge Home taken out on Deck 7 of the ship. For most of them it was their first time on a ship, except for Emmanuel to the right in the photo, front row, as he had club foot surgery last year and for his second photo just two weeks ago.
VFM Kids On board – Movie Time!
After having refreshments, we took the children/teens and staff of Victorious Faith Refuge Home for a tour, followed by watching a Veggie Tale movie – the story of David & Goliath on the big screen.
VFM Game Time On board
Last Saturday, we hosted the children/teens and staff of Victorious Faith Refuge Home – one of our mercy ministry sites. After shuttling them to the ship, we started with some games in the dining room followed by some special refreshments prepared by Albert, our German baker.
MoHSW OPS Visit
One of our best partners here in Liberia is the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare. I was able to host the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Health and some of his great office staff on board the m/v Africa Mercy last weekend. They were and are of great assistance to us in many ways and I wanted to show my appreciation.
Caribbean Mercy Reunion Group Photo
Former Caribbean Mercy Crew Members Reunion on board the m/v Africa Mercy. Group photo from March ’08