Aisha

She looks shyly up at me with big brown eyes, the hint of a smile on her lips. I can tell she is pleased to see me, quite though she is. Thirteen year old Aisha, my first student is a quick learner, picking up English far quicker than I could ever imagine picking up French or Sousou her languages. One of the first patients to arrive this field service, Aisha spent over three months in wards A and B on the Africa Mercy while surgeons worked hard to correct her deformity. You see Aisha's feet were bent under and were facing backwards, making it almost impossible for her to walk. Aisha was accompanied by her faithful mama, Mariam and her little baby brother Mamadou who quickly stole the hearts of anyone who spent any time in his presence.

Aisha, Mariam and me on deck seven. The patients spend an hour everyday out on deck seven to get some fresh air. Aisha had to go up in the lift in a wheelchair, as do most of the ortho patients, for a large part of her stay in the wards.

Mariam, Mamadou and Aisha in her first full length casts.

Aisha and her mama.

Mamadou

The wards of the hospital on the Africa Mercy are very far removed from what we expect in the West. They are chaotic, noisy, mamas and babies sleeping underneath their children's beds on mattresses, the noise of the drums and joyful singing dispersed with the sounds of retching and screaming children and Madagascar on the TV. Above I am visiting Aisha, her mama and brother.

The hospital employs over 100 day workers to assist in many different areas such as the wards, hospital housekeeping, hospital chaplaincy, the Hope Centre, x-ray, rehab, outpatients, screening, eyes, dental, dietitian and admissions. The primary role of the ward day workers is translating, an invaluable service that we would be lost without! But in their downtime they can often relate to patients in a way that we cannot through the sharing of their culture and language. Above a ward day worker does Aisha's hair.

This is an amazing photo that captures a rare smile form Aisha as she walks for the first time in her new, less cumbersome casts. It is hard to describe how you feel when you witness things like this. Seeing a patient walk on straight legs or watching a patient see the world for the fist time through eyes healed from a half hour surgery, seeing a patient "dry" after a successful VVF surgery, seeing patients relieved of years of pain and suffering when a rotten tooth is finally removed. It is hard to tell whether the blessing is more ours or theirs!

Joy!

Another nice family pic minus Dad and the rest of Aisha's siblings who lived apart for three long months in order to get their little girl healed.

Sam from hospital chaplaincy talks with Aisha.

The best day of all....going home!! But it is a day of mixed emotion as the patients form strong bonds with those who spend time with them. The hosptial becomes a home away from home for those who stay with us for months on end. The night before Aisha left I went to visit to say goodbye in case I didn't get to the dock to see her off. Try as I might I could not hold back the tears threatening to spill over. Despite the fact that our communication is only through translators and various hand guestures, tears are universal, as are a hug and a smile. As tears started to roll down my cheeks, Mariam began to quitely cry as I leaned over Aisha and stroked her hair as she sobbed in her pillow, her back turned from the world. I had underestimated her pull on my heart and mine on her's.

An awesome moment, Aisha walks along the dock unaided.

We are not allowed to give gifts to patients and day workers until they leave us so I had been waiting for many weeks to share some gifts with Aisha including a little clip on koala and a photo book of her journey with us.

Aisha and I say goodbye.

The  patient transfer land rover takes Aisha, Mariam and Mamadou home where they belong.

Fortunately Aisha will be returning at regular intervals throughout the rest of the field service to have her casts changed and for rehab appointments to allow the maximum healing we can give her before the ship leaves. Above Papanie, head of hospital housekeeping brings laughter to Aisha and her mum as they wait to be seen by the physios.



The ortho kids are some of the bravest I have ever met. They rarely complain as they endure many surgeries on a strange white ship that has docked in their land and months of painful rehabilitation, placing their hope and faith in strangers to bring about healing to their broken bodies. Above Aisha is all smiles on her last visit just before Christmas. She will be back in February for her next appointment and I can't wait to see her progress!!