Mercy Ships UK Onboard Magazine | Spring 2024

mercyships.org.uk | February 2024 | Issue 21

News and stories from the Mercy Ships community

Come

Sail with us

Hope. Healing. Helping dreams come true.

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Onboard magazine | Aissatou’s Story

About us Our hospital ships bring free, life-changing surgeries to women, men and children across subSaharan Africa.

Image: Fatou with Clementine, our onboard chaplain, before she returns home from hospital.

Safe surgery is out of reach for 9 out of 10 people in sub-Saharan Africa.

This is unjust. We believe everyone has the right to safe surgical care, whenever they need it.

As a faith-based organisation, we follow the model of Jesus to bring hope and healing.

Our hospital ships are fuelled by your love and support.

Hope. Healing.

Transforming lives.

Image: Sira practices walking with Carolina, who volunteers in our HOPE Centre.

Read Mame Diarra’s story at mercyships.org.uk or scan the QR code.

Follow us on social media /mercyshipsuk

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Mercy Ships UK, The Lighthouse, 12 Meadway Court, Stevenage SG1 2EF mercyships.org.uk 01438 727800 info@mercyships.org.uk

2 mercyships.org.uk Registered Charity No: 1053055. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743.

Company No: 3147724 (England and Wales)

We need you!

Could you, or someone you know, help transform lives on our hospital ships?

Find your place on board: opportunities.mercyships.org

Step on board for a journey of a lifetime Hope and gratitude

As I write to you, my heart goes out to everyone in the UK who’s on a waiting list for hospital treatment. Timely medical care is so important.

It brings home how we all want the best for our loved ones.

That’s why I’m so grateful for all that you do.

Your love fuels our Mercy Ships, helping to bring expert healthcare to some of the poorest places in the world.

Step on board one of our hospital ships, and you’ll find it’s just like a hospital here at home.

You’ll find the same outstanding facilities, the same cleanliness, the same ward beds.

But there’s also something so special about a Mercy Ships hospital. You’ll hear ripples of laughter. You’ll see people dancing with joy on the wards. Because at long last, our patients have received free healthcare. Something they might never have found for the rest of their lives.

Without you, and our compassionate volunteers, our patients may never have had the chance for surgery.

Image: Dr Charlotte Polle-Kaliti dances with women’s health patients during a celebration on the ward.

We need people from all walks of life, from nurses and surgeons, chefs to teachers, cleaners to engineers, to keep our ships running.

I’m so happy to share that our second hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, set sail earlier this month to Madagascar. Turn to page 11 to read more. With two ships running at the same time, we need more hands on deck than ever before.

Perhaps you feel called to share your time and talents. If you do, we’d love to welcome you on board. Whether you can spare a few weeks, months or more, you could make an incredible difference.

Of course, not all of us can pack up our bags – as much as we’d love to! That’s why your donation to our crew fund can enable others to go. You could support volunteers who couldn’t otherwise afford to go. Turn to pages 6-7 to see how you can support our caring crew, and in turn, transform lives.

With heartfelt thanks,

We rely on your generosity This issue of Onboard magazine celebrates all our incredible volunteers.

Every year, Mercy Ships needs 3,000 volunteers to come and make hope and healing possible for the patients we support.

Joanne Balaam Chief Executive Officer

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Onboard magazine | Mame Diarra’s story

The angels on the ward

You, and our caring crew, are transforming lives every day on board our hospital ships.

Images: One of our crew, Haby Niang, with Mame Diarra on the outpatient ward.

Mame Diarra’s smile is precious.

It lifts up your heart. This bright baby reaches out to grab the nurse’s finger. You can see something so special about how she interacts with the nurses – she knows she’s in safe and caring hands.

When she grows up, Mame Diarra won’t remember her time on our floating hospital. But her mum will never forget the love and care she was shown on the ship.

“It gave me so much joy because we saw her whole journey from the very beginning,” recalls Cobie, Mercy Ships pre-op nurse. “Her mum was so grateful for everything that we did.”

Her mum Ndiate will always be grateful. Because without Mercy Ships, and our caring volunteers on board, her baby’s life was at risk.

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Mame Diarra was born with a double cleft lip in Senegal. She couldn’t latch to breastfeed, and she also couldn’t suck from a baby bottle.

At home, Ndiate did everything she could to feed her baby. She dipped a spoon into a cracked teacup of milk. Mame Diarra tried to drink, but her cleft stopped her. She coughed and spluttered, and milk spilled out of her nose.

Her mum tried again – but her baby girl cried hungrily, desperately.

Without enough milk, Mame Diarra was losing weight at an alarming rate. Ndiate felt her baby’s hunger every minute of every day.

This fearful mum knew her baby needed more nutrients. At her local hospital, doctors recommended a special bottle for cleft babies. But there was only one pharmacy in the whole of Senegal that sold

Onboard magazine | Mame Diarra’s story

these bottles, at an extortionate £40 each.

Ndiate journeyed for hours to the pharmacy in Dakar, holding her newborn in her arms.

Holding onto hope.

“When we came to the pharmacy, the stock was all gone,” she told us. “They did not have any bottles left, so we had to wait for one month.”

Ndiate had travelled for over 300km – about the distance from London to York – to find one single bottle. She had to borrow money to take buses all the way there. But it was all for nothing. Her heart broke that day.

But because of you, Ndiate wasn’t alone. She found the medical help that her baby urgently needed.

After three months of nutritional care, Mame Diarra was well enough for surgery. With healing hands and caring hearts, our volunteer surgeons operated to save this baby girl’s life.

After her operation, you could see the change in Mame Diarra. Her precious smile. Her eyes gleaming with joy. And you could see her mum’s pride for all her brave little warrior had come through.

“I am so grateful and so happy,” says Ndiate. “I thought it would be this way forever. You did something no other hospital could do.”

That’s why your support is so amazing.

Because of you, Mame Diarra had lifesaving hospital care, for free. Your love brings hope to many families in their darkest, scariest moments.

“I told her not to give up”

Bring hope and healing

While Ndiate was in Dakar, she heard of Mercy Ships. She brought her three-month-old Mame Diarra in, fearing the worst. In countries like Senegal, malnutrition can leave infants at risk to diseases like malaria. Thanks to you, her baby was in safe hands.

Maybe you know someone who was born with a cleft lip. If you do, you’ll know how hard it can be for a child growing up, and how hard it is for their parents.

“I am so grateful and so happy.

You did something no other hospital could do.”

Mercy Ships volunteers placed her on the scales in the nutritional tent. This tiny baby weighed only 10 pounds. She was so severely malnourished that her clothes were hanging off her. So she needed emergency feeding to get her weight up, before she was well enough for surgery.

Mathe was part of the dietician team who supported her during her first few months. She made her bottles of infant formula. “Every day, I used to go to the wards to see her, and play with her, and try to talk to her mum – I told her that it was all going to be OK, just don’t give up.”

Babies like Mame Diarra born in sub-Saharan Africa have next to no medical care.

Please help bring much-needed hope and healing to a patient/baby today.

Pray for children who are fighting for their lives due to poor healthcare. Pray their families can hold onto hope.

Give £50 and bring nourishing baby food to a patient like Mame Diarra, so they are well enough for surgery.

Fundraise money over 40 days this Lent. Could you run, walk or swim? Raise £200 or more, and you could help fund a life-saving surgery for a cleft patient on board our floating hospital.

Donate at mercyships.org.uk/hope or scan the QR code.

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Onboard magazine | Volunteer Crew Fund

“I see hope in the eyes of the patients and their families. Hope for a life free from pain, hope for a new future.”

Dr Leo Cheng, maxillofacial surgeon

Love changes everything We rely on our caring crew of volunteers to keep our ships running.

Have you ever met a healthcare worker you felt grateful for? Can you remember their name?

What did they look like? How did their kindness and care made you feel?

Without Mercy Ships, her baby might never have had surgery.

Maybe it was the healing touch of a midwife who stayed by your side. Or an expert surgeon who operated on someone you love.

Mercy Ships volunteers are ordinary people.

Like you, they want to show their love for people who need help most.

The families we help on board our ships often say they’re so grateful. Like Ndiate and her precious baby girl, Mame Diarra.

From teachers to technicians, surgeons to speech therapists – volunteers come from all walks of life.

“There’s an overwhelming gratitude onboard. There is so much joy and hope here.”

Katie Henderson, ward nurse

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“We’re not heroes”

Everyone makes the ship their home, their workplace, their community and church – for weeks, months, and even decades.

All are driven by a heart of compassion.

Here, some of our crew share why they love being part of this special community…

Onboard magazine | Volunteer Crew Fund

“I’ve loved being here. The patients are so glad to get surgery. I feel very lucky I get to experience this.”

“It’s the best decision that I ever made. If you are considering serving – do it!”

Gillian Timm, a retired pharmacist from Wales

Kathryn Dungworth, primary school teacher

“You see someone’s dreams come true in front of your eyes. Being the part of answers to prayers is incredible.”

“We’re not heroes. We’re given back more in return than what we could ever provide.”

Rachel Greenland, ward nurse team leader Mercy Ships couldn’t exist without volunteers.

And with two ships running at the same time, we need more volunteers than ever before.

But it’s harder than ever to recruit.

Money is often the barrier.

Our volunteers generously give up a salary, and cover the cost of their own flights and vaccinations to come on board.

They do all of this, so we can bring expert healthcare to people who need help most – for free.

Sarah Loving, nurse

Help support our crew A gift from you today could help empower someone to come and share their talents on board. Someone who couldn’t otherwise afford to go. Your gift will truly help transform lives.

Donate by filling in the form at the back of the magazine, give online at mercyships.org.uk/ volunteer-fund or scan the QR code.

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Onboard magazine | A village of volunteers

“It takes a village to run our ships.

You can play a really big part”

Rebekah, from our Volunteering team, has just come back from a trip to the Global Mercy in Sierra Leone.

She shares what she loved about our floating hospital.

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What was it like being on board?

When I saw the ship in real life, I thought ‘Wow’. I arrived in Freetown at night. Coming over the hills, I saw the ship’s lights, shining in the darkness. And I got my first glimpse of how huge it is. When I walked up the gangway, I could sense there was something really special about the crew, right from the time I first stepped on board.

A couple of crewmembers helped me with my bags, they really went above and beyond to make me feel welcome. There’s a strong community spirit on the ship – everyone helps each other out.

People’s actions are louder than their words.

Everyone was so kind, even when they are really busy. At lunchtime, I sat in the canteen and there was a surgeon and nurses on my table. The whole morning, they’d been performing surgeries, and in the afternoon they’d be doing more surgeries.

Some of the medical crew were taking time away

Images: Our crew becomes like an extended family to our patients on board.

from work, and their normal lives, not to go on a beach holiday, but to come and serve on the hospital ship. They’re very inspiring people.

What are some of the challenges our volunteers are facing?

We need more volunteers. Everyone is going above and beyond to meet the high level of need. At the moment, our crew is just about managing, but soon, they might really start to struggle.

The biggest barriers to volunteers coming to the ship are financial. I’ve met many volunteers who have done a lot of fundraising in their church or with friends or family.

But there are so many more people out there who’d love to come but can’t afford to, including from low-income countries.

What can I do to help?

Please support our crew fund. You’ll help give people the chance to come on board who have a heart to serve. Your gift eases the burden, so people can come and serve even if they can’t afford the fees.

Perhaps you’ve thought about volunteering before, but you’ve not been able to. By donating to this fund, you are playing a big part. You’re enabling someone else to come, who is ready and willing to go. It really does take a village to keep our ships running – and you are a part of that village too.

Please give generously to support our crew at mercyships.org.uk/ volunteer-fund or scan the QR code.

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Onboard magazine | Ships and community news

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Manahoana!

This month, the Africa Mercy set sail to Madagascar, an island off the southeastern coast of Africa.

Walk along the sandy shores of the city of Toamasina, and you’ll find some of the warmest, most welcoming people you’ll ever meet.

The need is great here. Most families live on less than £2 a day. More than 9 out of 10 people in Madagascar would face financial ruin if they had to pay for surgery.

Mercy Ships has been invited to Madagascar three times before. Recently, we went to see one of our past patients, Vanya.

In 2015, Vanya struggled with two windswept legs, caused by malnutrition. But with the arrival of the Africa Mercy in Madagascar, free surgery was within her reach.

Vanya’s time on board opened the door to a new future. Now, this 19-year-old young woman is running her own successful business.

Her mum’s eyes filled with grateful tears when she talked about Vanya’s life before surgery – and her life today. “Thank you very much for what you’ve done.” n

Happily ever after We’re so happy for Nina, one of our passionate speakers, who recently tied the knot with Ian in sunny Lancashire.

Instead of asking for wedding gifts, Nina and Ian asked for donations to charity. They raised £825 for Mercy Ships, which was doubled to £1,650 as part of our Christmas Appeal.

Nina shared, “It’s a wonderful charity to get involved in. You feel a part of a family, thanks to the encouragement and support you receive.

So I was more than happy to share the gifts from our special day with Mercy Ships.”

Thank you so much Nina and Ian – and many congratulations! n

Lent Kindness Calendar Our new Lent Kindness Calendar is packedfull of ideas to show your love every day this Lent.

You can download the Lent calendar from mercyships.org.uk/lent You can also call us on 01438 727800 and we’ll be happy Lent KindnessCalendar to post it to you.

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LENT STARTS TODAY!

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DID YOU KNOW?

How are your new year’s resolutions going? Could you commit to a challenge on behalf of Mercy Ships?

It costs £30 a day to provide nourishing meals for a patient.

30% of our ship crew are local to the country we visit so they know the language and the customs. They are essential to Mercy Ships for the care of our patients.

Just go to: mercyships.org.uk/fundraise

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Could you sponsor a patient’s meals for a couple of days?

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Since 1978, Mercy Ships has performed over 521,000 dental procedures for more than 197,000 patients.

Meet Dr Odry Agbessi Benin’s first female plastic surgeon who was trained by Mercy Ships.

Read her story here: mercyships.org.uk/dr-agbessi

Henry James

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15 Little Tresor is too cool for school! After his successful cataract operation, Tresor needed to wear special glasses to protect his sight.

Your gift of £10 could help to provide a pair of glasses for the next patient.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

See what happens today when you give someone your full attention – you might be surprised by the effect.

Today, ask the names of the people you make contact with. Then using their names, thank them and ask how they are. Some of our patients are called Adam Zidane or even Maurinho because their love of football.

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21 Today is INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HAPPINESS. Counting your blessings is a sure way to feel happier.

Why not take some time to do that today?

"Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end."

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29 DID YOU KNOW?

SCRAP THE SCHEDULE

Because of your support, since 1978 Mercy Ships performed over 108,000 life-saving medical procedures across 14 African nations.

Why not take a moment to re-focus your energies on the people & things that matter and read some of these transformation stories at mercyships.org.uk/patient-stories

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4 We’re looking for speakers to share the Mercy Ships story in their community.

Could that be you?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

5 "When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people."

A. J. Heschel

Follow us on social media /mercyshipsuk

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It’s ST PATRICK’S DAY! Are you brave enough to dress head to toe in green today?

"Be kind and compassionate to one another…"

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"One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness; usually it comes back to you."

Anonymous

26 Now that the days are getting lighter, how will you use the brighter mornings? Perhaps with a reflective coffee, or spend some time meditating, or planning the day ahead.

DID YOU KNOW?

1 It’s great to freshen up after a long journey, isn’t it? Our patients often have to travel 100s of miles over difficult terrain to get to the ship.

Your gift of £15 can provide a patient like Aicha with a care pack so they can freshen up after their long journey.

7 Now Lent is coming to an end what about organising a coffee morning?

Pick up some Fairtrade certified items today, helping to ensure a fair price for farmers.

On MOTHERING SUNDAY tell a significant woman in your life how much you appreciate her.

Ephesians 6:4

There is one doctor for every 100,000 people in Africa, compared to 300 for 100,000 in the UK.

When was the last time you enjoyed a really good laugh?

Revisit a book, TV show or friend who can make you laugh out loud.

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FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT

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6 Have you received a copy of our Onboard magazine?

Contact us today to receive yours.

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There are 450 volunteers on the Africa Mercy and 641 on the Global Mercy!

Helen James

Is it time to review or write your will?

We can help. After prioritising gifts to family and friends, why not consider leaving 1% of your estate to Mercy Ships.

Visit mercyships.org.uk/legacy for resources and more information.

One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness; usually it comes back to you.

Today is WORLD WATER DAY. The Global Mercy can change sea water into drinking water!

Scott Adams

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J. W. Von Goethe

"Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference."

Friday at 10am on the Africa Mercy is waffle time! Why not join them by making your own waffles?

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PAY IT FORWARD Why not ask the local café if you can pay for an extra coffee so that if someone in need comes in, the staff can give them a hot drink.

"Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together."

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4 DID YOU KNOW?

Why not reflect on a book that has inspired you.

TODAY IS WORLD BOOK DAY

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Will you help to restore a smile?

A gift of £25 could pay for a first visit to a dentist for someone at risk like Sekouba.

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9 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind."

WORLD DENTIST DAY

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DOUBLE IMPACT

In 2023, Mercy Ships hospital ships will be visiting three countries: Senegal, The Gambia and Sierra Leone.

More than 16 million people die each year because they lack access to safe, affordable and vital surgery.

Why not donate the money you save to Mercy Ships?

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DID YOU KNOW?

What will you sacrifice for the next 40 days?

22 February 2023 - 8 April 2023

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APRIL FOOLS' DAY What jokes will you tell today?

DID YOU KNOW? A team of Gurkhas provide security and safety for our patients and crew onboard our hospital ships.

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Start of holy week DID YOU KNOW? One of Mercy Ships

most memorable vessels, the Anastasis, means resurrection.

8 Today is GOOD FRIDAY ‘Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrendered’.

Easter Saturday marks the end of Lent and our Lent Kindness Calendar. You can help patients like Kadidja to get the life-changing surgery they need.

Visit mercyships.org.uk/hope to donate the money you’ve raised.

Tha nk y ou!

Onboard magazine | Community news

You’ve done all of this… thank you Thank you so much for your support over the past year. Your generosity has helped so many people turn their lives around.

Last winter, you gave £343,056 to our Christmas Appeal, which will be doubled to £686,112. Your gifts help power our operating theatres, stock up our medicine cabinets, and provide life-changing surgeries.

We received nearly £2m from generous friends like you who have given in their Wills.

These wonderful gifts mean your love will live on, long into the future.

Thank you so much if you donated to our last special appeal in our Onboard magazine.

We received an incredible £100,000 to help rebuild our older hospital ship, the Africa Mercy.

Thanks to your kindness, and many Mercy Ships friends around the world who donated, our hospital ship is now ready to start serving again. Thank you so much. n

How you can help There are so many ways you can make a lasting impact.

Donate

Make a regular monthly donation to Mercy Ships.

Go to mercyships.org.uk/donate

Follow us

Join our online community: mercyshipsuk

Fundraise

Attend or organise your own event in your local community, club, or workplace.

Email events@mercyships.org.uk

Remember us

Remember Mercy Ships in your will.

Visit mercyships.org.uk/legacy

Get involved

Run, jog, walk, cycle, or swim for Mercy Ships by taking part in one of our challenge events.

Email getinvolved@mercyships.org.uk

Volunteer

Give your time and talents on board our hospital ships. Find your place at opportunities.mercyships.org

Pray

Pray for the families we serve on our hospital ships. Find out how your church can support Mercy Ships at mercyships.org.uk/church

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Ready to help transform lives ?

We’re looking for new volunteers to help bring hope and healing.

All our volunteers bring unique skills, strengths and talents to our hospital ships. Will you be one of them?

Want to join us? Amazing! Find out more at opportunities.mercyships.org or scan the QR code.

Registered Charity No: 1053055. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743. Company No: 3147724 (England and Wales).

Photos: (page 1) Mercy Ships/Judit Maier (pages 2-3) Mercy Ships/Elizabeth Page Brumley, Judit Maier, Abigail Beinetti (pages 4-5) Mercy Ships/Judit Maier, Elizabeth Page Brumley (pages 6-7) Mercy Ships/Shawn Thompson, Gerrit van den Noort, Benjamin Thielman, Danita Gilbert (pages 8-9) Mercy Ships/Elizabeth Page Brumley, Judit Maier, Tirsa Tapia Zamora (pages 10-11) Mercy Ships/Caleb Brumley, Shawn Thompson (page 12) Mercy Ships/Tirsa Tapia Zamora © February 2024 Mercy Ships UK