Nurse Jen's Travels: Why We Do What We Do

Hi all, it's been almost a month since we've had any patients on board & it'll be another month before we have any again (this time in Togo). This transition time is hard on people, especially nurses, who are used to working & caring for patients. So I'm posting a story that one of my friends from Gateway (who is one of the ship's writers) wrote about a patient to give you (& remind me) an idea of why we do what we do....

Mamodu Mattia

Mamodu & Mohammad wait anxiously
for the admissions process to begin

Mamodu Mattia is a teenager with an amazing smile, but you would not see it if you passed him on the street. He covers his front teeth with his lower lip, trying to hide the fact that he has a cleft lip – anything to keep the attention away from his mouth. His brother, Mohammad Mattia, stands watch over him, trying to protect him from harm.

The last time Mamodu and Mohammad’s family needed a doctor was three years ago when their mother was going through a difficult labor. She died, and the baby died several hours later. Sadly, their father was killed on the same day in a farming accident when a tree fell on him. Mamodu was only 14 when these tragedies struck.

Their extended family refused to take care of Mamodu for fear of any curses associated with his cleft lip. They felt his parents’ death was Mamodu’s fault. The brothers’ situation was made even worse by the fact that Mamodu is deaf and has no training in sign language. How could he take care of himself when he could not communicate with anyone?

So Mohammad left their extended family to take care of his brother. They have been on their own ever since, trying to make a way for themselves.

Before his parents died, Mamodu attended school. He loved school, but, after his parents’ death, he could no longer afford it. Mohammad worked tirelessly in the fields trying to save enough money to send Mamodu to school, but there was never enough. When Mohammad realized that Mamodu was too old for school, he taught his brother how to farm so they could work together. This helped Mohammad keep an eye on Mamodu at all times. Their extended family and other villagers were always mean to Mamodu, and the fact that he couldn’t hear them made him an easy prey.

A man named Abu Yeva changed everything for the two brothers. He told them about a medical screening conducted by Mercy Ships. It seemed too good to be true, and Mohammad was afraid to allow himself to hope. He did not know how much his brother understood, but he could already envision an easier, better life on the horizon. After receiving an appointment, they traveled for five hours to the ship. They were filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension.

Mohammad watches as Mamodu has blood samples taken

When it came time for the nurses to take blood samples from Mamodu, Mohammad instinctively stood guard over his brother. He was still unsure of what they were going to do to Mamodu. He had years of experience protecting his brother from the cruelty of this world, but now Mercy Ships was treating him with such care and kindness. As their time with Mercy Ships continued, both brothers’ spirits started to lift, and they began to trust the help offered to them.

Mamodu takes the first steps onto the gangway

while Mohammad stands back apprehensively

Mamodu is curious about what the nurse is doing to him

Ever-vigilant Mohammad watches carefully as
Mamodu finishes admissions

Mamodu’s stitches come out!

On their last day on the Africa Mercy, Mamodu was found looking in the mirror, admiring his new face. Mohammad was playing games with children on the ward.

After the stitches are removed, Mamodu & Mohammad
see the amazing transformation for the first time

Mamodu & Mohammad admire
Mamodu’s new reflection

Mamodu takes one last look at the ward
before he is discharged

Now both brothers are filled with more joy than they have known in years, as evidenced by their constant smiles. As Mohammad holds a child from the hospital, he says, “If it weren’t for Abu Yeva and Mercy Ships, Mamodu would not have been helped. I am so happy for my brother! Thank you Mercy Ships!”