Haingos læbeganespalte: Afvist af familien
Afvist af familie på grund af misdannelse
Haingo blev født med læbeganespalte og straks afvist af sin far og hele landsbyen, der ikke mente, at ”sådan én hørte til hos dem.”
På grund af læbeganespalten kunne Haingo ikke ammes, så moren holdt hende i live med fortyndet dåsemælk. Hver dåse kostede en dagsløn, men Haingo trivedes ikke. ”Hun blev tyndere og tyndere, og jeg var meget bange. Jeg bad hele tiden,” fortæller Haingos mor. Da Haingo var 7 måneder gammel, vejede hun blot 2,2 kg – mindre end et nyfødt barn. Hendes far ville ikke vide af hende. Han mente, det var bedst for alle at lade den lille pige dø.
Trods mandens modvilje og landsbyens grusomme kommentarer, nægtede Viviaby at give op i forhold til sin datter. Da hun hørte om hospitalsskibet, bevægede hun sig ud på en to dage lang rejse gennem det ujævne og stenede terræn, og fandt til sidst transportmulighed til Mercy Ships’ screeningklinik i området.
Screeningpersonalet vurderede Haingos tilstand som kritisk, og hun blev med det samme overført til hospitalsskibet. Sygeplejerskerne på børneafdelingen “tvangsfodrede” pigen 24 timer i døgnet, og hun tog hurtigt på. Mens Viviaby var indlagt med sin datter, mødte hun for første gang forældre til børn i samme situation som Haingo. Hun følte sig trøstet og ikke længere alene.Ti dage senere var Haingo stabil. Hun blev udskrevet til HOPE-centeret, hvor hun fortsat blev madet, til hun var stor nok til at blive opereret. Mens hun voksede sig stærk, begyndte hendes førhen udtryksløse øjne at følge opmærksomt med, og hun vinkede med sine små tykke arme, som før var tynde og skrøbelige.
Efter 5 måneder var hun stærk nok til at blive opereret. Da Haingo var 13 måneder gammel, gennemgik hun sin afsluttende operation på hospitalsskibet, og blev for første gang i sit liv i stand til at spise og drikke normalt. Da Viviaby og Haingo vendte tilbage til landsbyen, blev Haingos bror forvirret. Han kunne ikke genkende sin søster og beskyldte sin mor for at have forbyttet hende.
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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