http://www.mercyships.org en Copyright 2012 2012-05-04T14:24:00+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-happenings/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-happenings/ Alumni submitted reports about reunions and get together events in their part of the world. Alumni 2011-08-15T12:26:40+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/mother-and-daughter-share-love-and-service/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/mother-and-daughter-share-love-and-service/ “It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I realized just how much my mother – in fact, both of my parents – did for me. What they have given to me and to all of us in my family is amazing. All of the time, all of the money, all of the effort they have given to us is amazing,” says Mercy Ships crewmember, Michelle Cristion. For Michelle’s mother, Connie Cristion, these heartfelt words from her daughter have special meaning. When Michelle was born with a cleft lip and palate, Connie was initially very scared. “To me it was like seeing the back side of a tapestry. What I saw was the side that had the knots – the disaster so to speak. But now, before me, is the real side of Michelle that God has woven for us. Michelle is this wondrously beautiful tapestry who is a gift in so many ways.” Alumni 2012-05-04T13:24:00+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-newsletter-may-2012/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-newsletter-may-2012/ Calling all Mercy Ships Alumni! To read the May edition of 'The Ships Bell', the Mercy Ships Alumni newsletter, filled with exciting news pertaining to Mercy Ships and our extraordinary Alumni, click here! Alumni 2012-04-30T14:51:34+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/giving-joy-to-the-world/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/giving-joy-to-the-world/ It wasn’t until the age of 17 that Michelle Vujicic decided to become a nurse. When she was trying to choose what she wanted to do with her life, she suddenly felt a deep peace about nursing. “As soon as my heart was decided on nursing, I instantly thought of Africa. I thought you could do a lot in Africa with nursing. You can go and make a difference with your career,” she explains. Africa had never been on Michelle’s mind before, but as she started to think of serving the world, the statistical need in Africa was overwhelming. “It has always been clear that there is a real need in Africa, and I wanted to come and do what I can for the community,” she remarks. Alumni 2012-04-27T18:37:37+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/return-to-togo-was-perfect-timing/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/return-to-togo-was-perfect-timing/ “It was wonderful to see Romeo’s name on the admissions list for a cleft palate repair. While Romeo would not remember me, I recalled his sweet smile as if we had seen each other yesterday,” Melissa remarked. Shiplog 2012-04-27T04:00:13+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/seafarers-heart/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/seafarers-heart/ An integral member of the Africa Mercy’s Engineering Department is mechanic/fitter Denis Sokolov. Denis hails from a family with deep connections to seafaring, explaining with his signature smile, “I come by my mariner’s heart honestly. My father was a seaman for 37 years. He and my mother met and married while they were both working onboard a cargo vessel.” Alumni 2012-04-25T13:56:27+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alert-reception/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alert-reception/ Jim Twining, who works in the Reception Department on the Africa Mercy, is on the phone when an alarm sounds from the opposite end of the reception desk. Instantly, he springs into action, silencing the alarm and sending pages out to the appropriate personnel. The fire panel is the cause of this rush into action. Somewhere on the ship, the temperature spiked to above-normal levels, and the reception personnel are the first alerted to a possible fire onboard... Alumni 2012-04-13T15:00:59+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-newsletter-april-2012/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-newsletter-april-2012/ Calling all Mercy Ships Alumni! To read the April edition of 'The Ships Bell', the Mercy Ships Alumni newsletter, filled with exciting news pertaining to Mercy Ships and our extraordinary Alumni, click here! Alumni 2012-04-09T18:11:20+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/a-joy-to-work-with/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/a-joy-to-work-with/ Mention the name of Papanie Turay around the Africa Mercy, and the response is immediate: “Perpetually happy!” These two words sum up the wonderful joy that Papanie shares wherever he is working onboard. Shiplog 2012-04-02T14:05:19+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/love-in-action-for-needy-patients/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/love-in-action-for-needy-patients/ At a time in life when many people her age are trying to spend as much time with their grandchildren as possible, Cheryl Macfarlane is half a world away from hers. While she dearly loves her grandchildren, the registered nurse is finishing up a three-month volunteer term in Togo, Africa on Africa Mercy, the world's largest charity hospital ship. Alumni 2012-03-30T17:01:28+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/trainee-anaesthetist/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/trainee-anaesthetist/ Trainee anaesthetist, Andrew Robertson is on his second stint as volunteer with Mercy Ships. “I’ve met loads of people from around the world who have become very good friends. You get very close to people when living in such close quarters with them on the ship." “Volunteering for Mercy Ships really makes you stop and think about how lucky we are to have accessible health care at home.” Alumni 2012-03-21T20:09:05+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/estena/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/estena/ “Nurse! Nurse! A woman has given birth!” were the cries heard by Esther, a nurse in a village in Sierra Leone. A baby had been found when its faint cries were heard by a passerby, who mistook the cries for a goat. The infant girl had been abandoned in the latrine for about three days and was at death’s door – dehydrated and covered with infections. She was rushed to the police, who sent a messenger to get Esther to take charge of the child. She did a thorough examination and began antibiotic treatment immediately. The police put the child in Esther’s custody. She named the baby Estena and is now the child’s legal guardian. So begins the amazing story of Estena's second chance. Shiplog 2012-03-21T15:48:57+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/radiatou-new-hope/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/radiatou-new-hope/ From a young age, Radiatou Boukari learned about loss. When she was only four years old, her mother abandoned her and left her with her father. At the age of 10, things became even worse when she started having pain in her gums. The painful spot quickly turned into a lump. As her deformity became obvious, she was shunned by everyone . . . including former friends. Shiplog 2012-03-16T13:00:31+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/sierra-leone-hospital-assesments/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/sierra-leone-hospital-assesments/ In September 2011, Mercy Ships facilitated the assessment of an EMI team for the three tertiary hospitals in Freetown. In February 2012, they targeted three other Sierra Leonean hospitals in Bo, Makeni and Kenema. Each of these facilities, serve as a referral site for smaller hospitals and clinics throughout the country. EMI’s thorough reports will be shared with Mercy Ships’ local health partners in Sierra Leone. Read about their very interesting findings and journey. Shiplog 2012-03-14T20:17:20+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/sierra-leone-ambassador/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/sierra-leone-ambassador/ The Sierra Leone-U.S. Ambassador addressed representatives from almost 20 nongovernment organizations and major medical companies at the board meeting of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD), at Mercy Ships headquarters in Lindale in Texas. Shiplog 2012-03-08T13:34:57+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/mercy-ships-gem/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/mercy-ships-gem/ On 10 February 2012, Mercy Ships welcomed Dr. Leo Cheng onboard the Africa Mercy for his ninth visit. A collective cheer went up around the ship when Dr. Leo arrived. His self-described “boyish madness” is a wonderful spirit-raiser for patients and crew alike. Alumni 2012-03-07T20:33:30+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/abbott-laboratories-contributes-equipment/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/abbott-laboratories-contributes-equipment/ Mercy Ships is fully operational, thanks to significant donations of state-of-the-art diagnostic and testing equipment for the hospital. One remarkable and faithful donor is Abbott. Their contributions include Cell Dyn 1800 Hematology Instruments, FreeStyle Lite Glucose Meters, and iStat instruments. The equipment came bundled with the added generous donation of testing supplies, controls, and calibrators – along with maintenance and training support. All of these vital donations directly benefit West African men, women and children who desperately need medical care. Shiplog 2012-03-07T20:18:30+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/resurrecting-his-dream/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/resurrecting-his-dream/ Sixteen-year-old, Kossin Delou, spent four years of his life sheltered by his family and kept out of the public eye due to an enormous tumor that dominated the left side of his face. When the tumor first appeared, Kossin visited local hospitals in Lomé, Togo. But his family could not afford the necessary surgery. So, the tumor, which started from Kossin's upper jaw, continued to grow. It soon covered his eye, hindering his vision. Shiplog 2012-03-05T19:29:23+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/sweetly-restored/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/sweetly-restored/ The white steri-strips above her lips crinkle as baby Aissatou presents an adorable smile to the nurses. She is as cute as a button with her bright eyes and vibrant smile. However, her life faced an immediate and tough challenge when she was born with a cleft lip. This facial deformity is caused when the tissues of a baby’s top lip fail to fuse correctly. Shiplog 2012-03-05T18:51:57+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-newsletter-march-2012/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-newsletter-march-2012/ 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! Alumni 2012-03-05T15:39:51+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alusine/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alusine/ “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. Shiplog 2012-02-29T15:10:30+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/coca-cola-partner/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/coca-cola-partner/ 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. Shiplog 2012-02-28T15:49:44+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/message-in-a-bottle/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/message-in-a-bottle/ 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. Alumni 2012-02-22T17:48:34+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/a-story-of-transformation1/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/a-story-of-transformation1/ 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. Shiplog 2012-02-20T15:29:48+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/partners-reception/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/partners-reception/ 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. Shiplog 2012-02-17T19:30:59+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/hope-center-opening/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/hope-center-opening/ 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. Shiplog 2012-02-15T15:26:54+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/on-a-mission-of-mercy/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/on-a-mission-of-mercy/ 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. Shiplog 2012-02-13T14:24:37+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/medical-screening-lome/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/medical-screening-lome/ 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. Shiplog 2012-02-07T18:14:46+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/the-touch-of-a-hand/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/the-touch-of-a-hand/ 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. Shiplog 2012-02-02T20:41:39+00:00 http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-newsletter-february-2012/ http://www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/alumni-newsletter-february-2012/ 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! Alumni 2012-01-30T18:37:43+00:00