The Mercy Minute

Heilke from the Netherlands came to volunteer on the Africa Mercy.

Mercy Ships serves people of all ages. 

At 14 years old, Lucy lived with constant fear of what her future would hold. 

As a teenager, Mamodu had already suffered much in life. 

A monstrous growth on Fatu's face was slowly suffocating her. 

Margaret was 13 years old when she came on board the Mercy Ship. 

Eleven-year-old Comfort was a delightful young lady with a strong faith in God. 

When Naserry was 5 years old, she fell into a cooking fire. 

"Because of this sickness, my life went to zero." 

We are excited to announce that the Global Mercy is back in Sierra Leone. The crew welcomed the first patient just two weeks ago. 

From the moment she was accepted for surgery and stepped on board the ship, she could not hide her smile. 

She shuddered at the sight of her newborn daughter... 

He was determined to finish his schooling...

Aminata daily sold her cloth in the city to make money to buy food.

Ibrahima was 16 years old when his cleft lip and palate caused him to fight back against other children calling him names.

Vincent and Ariel were 6-year-old twin brothers, both born with severely crossed eyes. 

For at least 10 years, Roger suffered from an ever-expanding tumor on his chin. 

Sahr and his buddy sat with their legs in casts, smiling and laughing. 

Amoralia first noticed something was wrong when she was 11 years old. 

5-year-old Namina suffered from the life-threatening condition known as noma.

Jariatu felt deep gratitude as she welcomed her first child into the world. 

At age 12, Fanie's charisma captivated everyone he met. 

Little Alberta woke from a nap and stumbled into the kitchen where her grandmother, Mariah, was cooking over an open fire. 

The white steri-strips above her lip crinkled as baby Aissatou smiled at the nurses. 

Umu was a modest 18-year-old with a large tumor across her chin. 

When Diongnima was 5 years old, a tumor began to grow above his right eye...

The day was long and exhausting...

While sitting in the OR office, hospital director Keren watched the monitor to view what was happening inside the theater...

One of the strengths of Mercy Ships is our partnerships all over the world...

At Mercy Ships, we're trying to work ourselves out of a job! 

Fatou grew up in Senegal and lived with a tumor on her face since she was a young girl. 

Ramatu wasn't surprised when people ran from her or called her demon-possessed. 

Salma had a determination unlike most 6-year-olds. 

Matta was born with a growth on her eye lid. 

He was so quiet and reserved, no one would have guessed that Tamba was an attack player on Sierra Leone's best-known soccer team. 

After suffering for many years alone, Harding was now overwhelmed by the love and care he received on board the Africa Mercy. 

When Sally was 10 years old, she was in a car accident that left her legs broken.

Rigiatu held her father tightly, looking around the admissions tent. 

Mai covered her chin with an orange rag to hide the tumor in her mouth. 

When a tumor started growing on Harding's face, his classmates made fun of him, and his parents abandoned him. 

Fatmata sat quietly in the Admissions tent, holding her 16-month-old daughter. 

A playground filled with children means a few tumbles and scraped knees. 

David had a brilliant smile and a positive attitude — despite being in pain for the past six years. 

Aminata was known as the witch of Freetown. 

Fatmata was 13 years old when she had to leave school. 

The professional medical volunteers on board our hospital ships, the Global Mercy and the Africa Mercy, perform thousands of free surgeries every year. 

A grandmother sat on a bench in the Africa Mercy's hospital ward. 

Sira was a playful 4-year-old filled with vibrant life.

Fatamata was filled with hope when her children were born. But both times, nearly nine years apart, that hope faded into fear.

Mariama was only 4 years old when her parents noticed her legs were beginning to bend. 

Josephine's parents rushed her to a local hospital. 

When Emmanuel was 2 years old, the left side of his face began to swell. 

Mariama was delighted that her second baby was a son. 

When Mariama was 15, her sister died giving birth. 

Sadio told his son, "You are strong."

Babies born with defects in West Africa start life as victims of superstition that abnormalities are signs of a curse. 

Adenidji was a dedicated Muslim who arrived at the Mercy Ships patient screening. 

Odette Wilson was a mother of four children living in the port city of Lome, Togo. 

"If you want me to come back to church, God, find some way to make my face normal." That was Bagnangui's prayer. 

In West Africa, a child with bowed legs is considered cursed by evil spirits. 

Serah is from Taomasina, Madagascar and was born with clubfeet. Her parents were determined to get treatment. 

Balkissa was born with an abnormal growth on her tongue. 

Many years ago, we sailed our ships through Europe on promotional tours. 

Now that the Africa Mercy has returned to Madagascar, we've had the privilege of seeing patients from our last field service. 

For the better part of a day, Isatu sat on her hospital bed staring at the reflection of her face in the small mirror in her hand. 

When Anama was a young boy in Togo, he used to walk to his father's farm to work.

In a coastal city in eastern Madagascar lives a 12-year-old boy named Romino.

Lawson was on the brink of death when he arrived at the Africa Mercy docked in Togo, West Africa. 

Eighteen-year-old Josee from Togo, West Africa seemed like a normal teenager. 

Adjovi never went to school and grew up selling fish. On Sundays, she sold in front of a church to the attendees. 

Our hospital is open on board the Africa Mercy in Madagascar and surgeries have begun!

After a 12-day sail from France to Togo, West Africa, Mercy Ships crewmember Kristi Kalivas longed to get off the ship.

Noelie grew up in Lomé, Togo, a city on the coast of West Africa.

While most 2-year-olds are speeding up, Serigne was slowing down. 

In developing countries where healthcare is unavailable or unaffordable lives come and go all too often. 

There are many countries in the world where Kossi could have been born. 

Akoua arrived at Mercy Ships alone. 

Marty and Catherine were chaplains aboard the Africa Mercy. 

Junior was different. 

Dela grew up in a small village where people cooked over an open wood fire. 

Akuavi came to the patient screening with a scarf draped down over her right eye. 

When Sassou was born, there was a small bump on the inside of his eye.    

Baby Romeo came into this world with a cleft lip and palate.      

Germaine was married at a very young age and encountered complications during her first pregnancy. 

Years ago, Jean was caught in a rebel battle in Benin.  

Marceline is an angelic 19-year-old girl. Her captivating eyes express her thoughts without any words. 

When Claudine was born, her eyes didn’t open. She was lucky enough to be born in a hospital. 

Imagine this life: You are 11 years old, your father died and your mother has abandoned you. 

Cicile began to well up with tears and said, “If I cry, they’re tears of joy.”

Amavi and her baby sister, Kossinovi, are from a family of eight children. They share a distinctive characteristic — they were both born with a cleft lip. 

Christian is 9 years old, but he isn’t like other children his age. They can read. He cannot.

In Western Africa, women do an astounding amount of hard work. 

Alizma was quiet and downcast as she sat beside her neighbor. 

Junior, Akoko, and Gloria are three children with a few things in common — they live in Togo, West Africa, and they were all born with crossed eyes. 

After his surgery on board the Africa Mercy, 12-year-old Komi said, “Because of the way that they took care of me here, I want to take care of others."

When Soleman went to the Mercy Ship in Togo, other children giggled and played. 

Medical missionary Sarah Root was walking in Cameroon, West Africa.

Espoir arrived at the Africa Mercy like a bolt of electricity — energizing the entire hospital.