Et smil, der smitter
Mercy Ships mødte Benjamine i Congo i 2014, hvor hun smittede alle ombord med sit smil, der trængte igennem de alvorlige forbrændingsskader.
Besætningen på Africa Mercy er dygtige til smilets sprog. Da besætningen ikke nødvendigvis taler de lokale sprog, som for eksempel Kituba og Lingala, er smilet en effektiv form for kommunikation om bord på hospitalsskibet.
Da 13-årige Benjamine første gang kom om bord på Africa Mercy trængte hendes inderlige smil gennem de alvorlige forbrændingsskader. Hun talte også smilets sprog.
Da Benjamine var lille legede hun med sine venner, da de besluttede at sætte ild til en bunke træ. Et af børnene forsøgte at slukke ilden med benzin, og flammerne sprang pludselig op og antændte Benjamines kjole og brændte hendes arme, hendes torso og hendes hals. Hun fik ikke den sårpleje, hun havde brug for, og hendes tilstand forværredes.
Arrene langs Benjamines hals og bryst trak sig sammen – så meget, at hendes kæbe blev trukket ned, hvilket fik hendes mund til at forblive permanent åben. Begge hendes arme, især albuen og underarmen, var også alvorligt sammentrukket.
Disse sår definerede og begrænsede hendes liv. Hun gemte sig i huset og ville ikke gå udenfor af frygt for hån. Hun gik aldrig i skole eller handlede på markedet med sin mor.
Men det var tydeligt, at Benjamine havde en helt bestemt overlevelsesånd. En stor procentdelt af børn, der er alvorligt forbrændte, overlever ikke som følge af mangel på den nødvendige sårbehandling. “Det er et mirakel, at Benjamine overlevede,” kommenterede Mercy Ships frivillige kirug, Dr. Tertius Venter.
Dr. Venter og hans team tilbragte næsten 2½ time i operationsstuen. Efter den omfattende operation fejredes det med dans, kildelege og gemmeleg. Skibet var fyldt med Benjamines smittende latter.
Forløbet blev afsluttet på syvende dæk med en farvelfest for Benjamine og hendes mor. Alle fik et kram og et øjeblik med Benjamine. Vi var kede af at se hende gå, men hendes afgang var fyldt med glæde og håb for fremtiden.
Benjamines mor, Marie Jeanne, fortalte besætningen: “Gud har helbredt min datter gennem jer, og glæden i mit hjerte er lige så stor som forandringen for min datter – forandringen af den måde, hun holder hovedet på, og den måde hun taler og griner.”
Takket være gavmilde donorer og frivilliges indsats er det muligt at tilbyde håb og helbredelse til børn som Benjamine. Vi takker alle, der bidrager til at gøre vores arbejde muligt.
Marie-Madeleine : histoire de nos patients H2
Marie-Madeleine est une battante qui ira sûrement loin dans la vie. Depuis toute petite, elle fait preuve d’une détermination hors norme puisqu’elle refuse que son handicap soit un frein dans son parcours scolaire en Afrique et dans sa vie professionnelle.
At 13, Marie-Madeleine has a lot going for her. Not only does she believe in the importance of a good education to achieve her dreams, but she is able to put aside her disability to get ahead in life.
Congenital malformation H3
Since she was a child, her right leg has had an abnormality that has not gone unnoticed. Due to an abnormal muscle contracture, her knee bends in the wrong direction. She develops a very peculiar gait that attracts everyone’s attention, but does not stop her in her tracks.
Against all odds, Marie-Madeleine’s childhood went well and she developed a cheerful personality. She loves going to school and walks to school every day. Despite her difference, the other children accept her and she makes many friends.
However, her family fears that the obstacles are becoming too great for her to reach her full potential. And there is not enough money for any kind of treatment! Adama, her grandmother, confirms: “As we did not have the money to hope for medical help, we waited for a miracle
Hospital Ship Intervention in Africa H3
The long-awaited miracle came true last summer. Our hospital ship Africa Mercy docked a hundred kilometres from his village, offering orthopedic surgeries entirely free of charge thanks to your donations. What more could they hope for? Adama accompanies her granddaughter to the selection of patients and gets a positive answer: Marie-Madeleine is accepted for an operation in November! From then on, the young girl enjoyed imagining what her new life would be like with two straight legs.
After 8 weeks of patience with her leg immobilised in a plaster cast, a new and crucial phase began. With her crutches removed and a large splint fitted, Marie-Madeleine can experience her first feelings of freedom and lightness. But there was no question of rushing things, because the operation was not enough to get her back on her feet. For almost twelve years, the muscles in her leg have not functioned normally, and it is essential that she strengthens her muscles so that her leg can support the weight of her teenage body.
Follow-up therapy by our volunteers H3
Surrounded by our team of volunteer physiotherapists, she is entering the final stretch of her recovery. For three months, her visits to the big tent on the quay – where the rehabilitation of our patients takes place – will gradually lead her on the right path.
Last February, a final appointment with our physiotherapists based in Africa confirmed that her leg was in good shape and that she could return home. Marie-Madeleine triumphantly gives us a double victory sign. It was a long way to go, but she crossed the finish line with a smile on her face!
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