AFRICA — A 14-year-old girl from Sierra Leone is free to follow her dreams of becoming a doctor after having a benign facial tumour surgery by international health charity, Mercy Ships.

Without the timely surgery, the tumour would have continued to grow to the point of causing airway obstructions, and ultimately, death by suffocation.

Lucy:

I love to study My favorite subject is mathematics.

Aminata – Teacher:

She likes helping people. If you go to the stream and you met her there you are doing your washing or whatever she will help. That’s Lucy.

Lucy:

When I was four years old my tooth started aching. It was hurting me until the tooth came out after that it started swelling. It kept growing bigger.

Aminata:

When she was in class, some of the kids would say I don’t like her because of this tumor and were staying away from her.

Lucy:

I was closest to my teachers. We played together. They were my best friends because my friends used to push me away when I went to play with them.

Fatumata – Teacher:

I have empathy for her, really. Because if she was my child I would not want her to be like that.

Dr Didier-David Malis – Volunteer Surgeon:

Without any surgery then the mass would have become bigger and bigger. Ultimately, she certainly would have experienced swallowing difficulties getting food in her body as well as airway obstruction. And that probably would have ultimately led to her death by suffocation, which is something we never wish anybody.

Lucy:

I have never seen a ship like this before that looks like this big ship

Jeri Harper – Volunteer Nurse:

So Lucy was actually the first pediatric patients that I took care of here. You know, she’s funny. She’s the first person that ever got me up dancing at work, because when she wanted you to do something, you did it. I don’t know how that happens. But you did.

Lucy:

Why did I love to work with Jeri. Because we were friends. That is why I love to work with her.

Jeri:

And the people here, including Lucy, they see it as my life just started. Let’s let’s celebrate that let’s have a good time, because look at everything that’s going to happen for me now. I think now she can do whatever she wants. I think she can do anything. And I think she knows it.

Lucy:

When I was discharged from the hospital, once I arrived home, I went to visit my friends first and I visited all of them

As soon as the kids saw the vehicle. “Ohh she’s here!” People were just jubilating we were very happy by then. Well I think there is a hope. Seeing Lucy now it is much better.

That’s why we use Ubuntu. I cannot be happy if the people around me are not happy. But when everyone around me is happy, I’m happy. So when Lucy’s happy, we’re all happy in class. And we are so happy to have her she is wonderful.

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About Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building, and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 developing countries, providing services valued at more than $1.7 billion and directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people. Our ships are crewed by volunteers from over 60 nations, with an average of over 1,200 volunteers each year. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills. With 16 national offices and an Africa Bureau, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time. For more information click on www.mercyships.org.

CONTACT: Diane Rickard, Int’l Media Relations Manager, Mercy Ships, Diane.rickard@mercyships.org

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