Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 29, 2012 at 11:10 am
“Because of this sickness, my life went to zero,” says Alusine Kamara, drawing a circle in the air with his finger. After developing a tumor on his jaw three years ago, Alusine lost his business, his wife, his children – and all hope for his future. Having tried every medical intervention available to him, Alusine decided that it was God’s will for him to die. Then a chance encounter with a taxi driver led him to Mercy Ships, where he received not only physical healing, but also love and compassion that have renewed his spirit.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 28, 2012 at 11:49 am
During the Mercy Ships patient screening in Lomé, Togo, in February of 2012, approximately 1600 people in desperate need of medical care were evaluated. The day was very long for those patients, their caregivers, and 200 Mercy Ships volunteers. A generous sponsor stepped forward to provide something that gave vital relief. Brasserie Benin, the producer and distributor for Coca Cola in Benin, and Coca Cola donated 4,800 bottles of VITALE water to be distributed throughout the day.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 22, 2012 at 01:48 pm
In 2008, onboard the Africa Mercy, a young Joyce Eveleens threw a bottle, with a message rolled tightly inside, into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Liberia, West Africa. Three years later, in 2011, after traveling 3,720 miles, her bottle was found on the shore of Carriacou, a small island off the coast of Colombia.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 20, 2012 at 11:29 am
The villagers called Abdul the “devil child” because of his deformed, curling feet. One day, a radio jingle announced the arrival of Mercy Ships to assess people for surgery. Abdul and his father stood in line for an exhausting three days to be seen. It was worth every second when Abdul was accepted for treatment. “The joy I felt was so overwhelming that I lost my appetite to eat until I arrived at Mercy Ships,” he remembered with a flush of excitement.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 17, 2012 at 03:30 pm
At the end of January, over 120 partners and supporters attended the Mercy Ships Togo 2012 Partners Reception onboard the Africa Mercy. Dr. Gary Parker, the Mercy Ships Chief Medical Officer, expressed the sentiments of the entire Africa Mercy crew, saying, “It’s wonderful to be back in beautiful Togo.” He outlined the medical and capacity-building services that will be provided to the people of Togo during this field service, focusing on surgeries that will correct and eliminate disfigurements that so often lead to isolation from family and community.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 15, 2012 at 11:26 am
There was good reason for joy among the crowd of government dignitaries, health officials and representatives of the Africa Mercy who gathered shoulder-to-shoulder for the official opening of the brand new Mercy Ships Hospital Out-Patient Extension (HOPE) Center in Togo.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 13, 2012 at 10:24 am
A one-month sabbatical on board the Africa Mercy, a “floating hospital” that travels the world offering free healthcare in poor areas, inspired Ryley Grunenwald to make a documentary of the work being done on the vessel. A freelance cinematographer, Ryley had decided to take a break and do something for others. When a friend told her of his experience on board the Africa Mercy, Ryley was intrigued. “I thought being part of a team that provides free specialised surgery would help me find direction and perspective,” she recalls.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Feb 07, 2012 at 02:14 pm
Mercy Ships medical professionals recently held free screening consultations at Kegue Stadium in Lomé, Togo, after the Africa Mercy recently docked in the West African port.
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Posted by Contributing source on Feb 02, 2012 at 04:41 pm
He remembered a particular screening where a woman waited alone, away from the other potential patients, her head covered with a giant scarf to hide the huge, oozing, smelly tumor extending out of her head. None of the other people waiting wanted to be near her. Then a Mercy Ships crew member came and sat down next her and put their arm around her to comfort and encourage her while she waited.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 30, 2012 at 02:37 pm
Calling all Mercy Ships Alumni! To read the February edition of 'The Ships Bell', the Mercy Ships Alumni newsletter, filled with exciting news pertaining to Mercy Ships and our extraordinary Alumni, click here!
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 27, 2012 at 12:12 pm
One day, a radio jingle announced the arrival of Mercy Ships to assess people for surgery. Abdul and his father stood in line for an exhausting three days to be seen. It was worth every second when Abdul was accepted for treatment. “The joy I felt was so overwhelming that I lost my appetite to eat until I arrived at Mercy Ships,” he remembered with a flush of excitement.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 20, 2012 at 11:57 am
Although some of the roles Robin has served in over the past seven years have been more challenging than others, it is the community life onboard that has continued to sustain him. “These things have all been part of the story of my life. Living in this community, its stories have become part of my life story.” Robin says.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 20, 2012 at 11:23 am
With a background as a touring rock star and an Executive Chef, Ken Hatfield joins Mercy Ships as the new Food Service Manager. His journey is one of total transformation and redemption – leaving behind a world of luxury and stardom for life onboard the Africa Mercy, a state-of-the-art hospital ship in West Africa.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 20, 2012 at 11:07 am
Throughout each field service, Mercy Ships is committed to investing in local health care infrastructure in ways that will continue to have an impact long after the ship leaves. In keeping with this long-term capacity-building strategy, Mercy Ships donated three modular buildings to Rokupa Government Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, at the end of the 2011 Sierra Leone Field Service.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 20, 2012 at 10:47 am
On November 25, 2011, Mercy Ships held a ceremony to celebrate the donation of the drill rig and associated equipment and supplies to Living Water Sierra Leone. This Mercy Ships partner organization equips local people to implement water projects – including shallow well drilling, pump repair and hygiene education.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 20, 2012 at 10:18 am
On 19 December 2011, the Africa Mercy held a reception to celebrate twenty years of friendship and collaboration with the Republic of Ghana. The occasion focused on past and future partnerships for health care development in Ghana and beyond. In all, one hundred and twenty guests came to further develop their relationship with Mercy Ships.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 13, 2012 at 03:03 pm
While taking care of her niece, Lamarana also found time to help the hospital crew by translating for other patients. She speaks several languages – Fula, Mende, Krio, Temne, English, and some French – and was a tremendous help to the nurses. Her communication skills were a great asset on the ward as patients come from all over West Africa.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 09, 2012 at 04:08 pm
Calling all Mercy Ships Alumni! To read the January edition of 'The Ships Bell', the Mercy Ships Alumni newsletter, filled with exciting news pertaining to Mercy Ships and our extraordinary Alumni, click here!
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Posted by Contributing source on Jan 04, 2012 at 09:11 am
A SURGEON is back home in Cambridge after performing life-saving operations on board a giant African hospital ship.
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Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Dec 29, 2011 at 12:14 pm
The Mercy Ships Palliative Care Program was initiated after crew member Ann Giles identified a need to offer continuing care to people with inoperable tumors. Now in its tenth year, the program sends nurses into the community to offer pain relief, wound care, counseling and support to these patients.
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