Pamela Graham, who was part of the Bristo fellowship until a few months ago, has just started a short-term period of service on the Mercy Ship, Africa Mercy, which docked in Benin on 11th February and will remain there for ten months. Africa Mercy, a former rail ferry, is the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship and was deployed in 2007. It has six operating theatres and is capable of about 7000 surgical interventions per year. Following the example of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide. Since 1978, volunteers serving with Mercy Ships have had an impact on the lives of millions of people in the world’s poorest nations. Here Pamela gives her first impressions (taken from a couple of emails).
Well, I arrived on the ship late on Sunday night (1st March). The ship itself sailed from Tenerife to Benin in late January and arrived here mid Feb. It will stay here until Dec 10th when it will return to Tenerife. This particular outreach they are concentrating on accomplishing over 3000 cataract surgeries, among others. I have already seen such an extent of eye injuries that just would not be present in the UK. I started in theatre today. Most medical staff come and go on a regular basis due to work contract commitments however I will be here for four months and I hope this will give me time to get settled and know the place pretty well.
The basis of the ship is to reach out to the poorest of the poor. Currently Benin ranks 163rd poorest nation out of 177 according to the human poverty index. It isn’t evangelical in manner but aims to reach out by example, letting the people see the love of Jesus in action. Already we have helped so many people in the short time of being here and there are many more to do the same for.
Since I have only been here only a few days I haven’t even got off the ship yet but by looking out I can instantly see the deprivation here. Benin’s cultural and religious beliefs lie mostly with Muslim however there is a large impact of sorcery and witchcraft here also. During devotions this morning we touched a little bit on that in mentioning that the reality of it shouldn’t let us give the enemy power, so I go in grace!
It is great being here, although in many ways it is just like a westernised hospital, it was founded in the U.S and volunteers are mostly North American. The delicacies in the shop are American candy and we all know it’s rubbish. So in many ways, it has the same stresses and strains of our own hospitals which I am disappointed about but I hope that I will be able to rise above this and enjoy the time serving in the way I have been equipped and that He will use my experience and character to its very best. It is my hope that I will be able to build strong relationships here and get as much from the experience as I can or wherever it is God wants to take me or show me in this time.
Here is my first instalment of my life for the next four months. arrived safely in Benin last Sunday night, there is little time difference so I’m really glad I didn’t have jet lag on top of motion sickness. Have had it for a while now as the ship is rocking quite a bit. Apparently the wall at the dock is not a solid wall right down and so the sea sweeps in underneath hence rocking us. I have since got a transdermal patch for the sickness and it is working wonders!
Had orientation on Monday by the OR staff which went well and then started on Tuesday morning in OR 5 which is eyes. The aim of the outreach here in Benin this year is to reach a target of 3000 cataract surgeries by the time they leave. The doctors, Dr Glenn Strauss and Dr Ralph Crew, both from Texas, have been getting through them like a steam train!
Yesterday I went into max facs [maxillo-facial surgery] which was amazing, we removed a massive mandibular tumour. They removed the entire jaw but left the condyles which the titanium plate attached to and proceeded to attach all the muscles around the plate to stabilise and ensure the tongue was secured otherwise it would slip back as there is nothing to hold it in place when the airway would become obstructed which is the biggest concern for these type of patients. This patient’s biggest concern was that she may not be able to afford the trip back down to Cotonou for follow-up and so will return to her home not knowing the possible complications. There are apparently many people running around north Benin with their titanium plates on show as the skin around the jaw has shrunk back to its original state and the plate has protruded through the skin. Although I hear it doesn’t bother many people, they even decorate the jaw with earrings and such like to make it pretty!! Infection must not exist in Benin!
Cataracts are also very prevalent; however, we see these patients when they already cannot see. A few of us got to see the post op eye patients yesterday after their surgery 24 hours earlier. When the patch is removed they have a sight test. It’s great to see these people reading a letter chart so easily whereas the day before they were almost blind. It really is amazing and just to be a part of that is such a privilege. The disturbing thing is that normally patients such as these have no access to medical care and go blind, so the family will disregard them and stop feeding them, hence death by starvation. It happens a lot here I am told. They are seen as a non-productive person in the family and so the family can’t afford to keep them. But praise Him as He has helped many families travel a long distance to get their loved ones to a doctor.
Also had the chance to go to the ward today where a VVF [vesicovaginal fistula] patient was being discharged. They are usually very emotional and joyous events. It’s a very common complaint here. Due to the lack of obstetric care, a lot of women during labour rupture the birth canal and the bladder, forming a fistula. From here, they have no control over their bladder causing incontinence. The consequences are complete eradication from society; it is very distressing and many women consider suicide as their only cure. These women range from 13 upwards. From childbearing age they get married off and pregnant resulting in a still-birth in most cases and this horrific ordeal afterwards. There was a documentary we watched which was really helpful. A lot of girls from age 2 have to carry large water vessels which means they have stunted growth and their pelvis does not grow so that in pregnancy the baby cannot fit through the pelvis causing this rupturing. It really does ruin lives, being completely extradited means they live on the streets and, due to the heat, they carry the smell of urine around with them. They cannot go out of their homes if they have this condition and again are seen as a non productive person in the family; it’s even portrayed as a curse in some places. One girl who had VVF had been seen by a doctor a long time ago. As he could not help her, he wrote a note and told her to carry it with her. On it, it said “Please cure this woman”. This lady in question had been waiting at the bus stop for 6 years to get enough money to see another doctor. You will be pleased to hear that she continues to improve now. One of the gynae docs headed up to north Benin a few days ago to find VVF patients and bring them to the ship. He successfully found 19 patients and brought them all down here to Cotonou last evening. They were meant to stay in a hotel close by; however, they were not allowed in as they ‘smelled’ and so Dr Hosea stayed in the van with all of the women overnight to ensure their safety and support. The humbleness of many of the people serving here is incredible, for what they could be getting in our western society, they have committed to living and working on a ship for in some cases as much as 22 years.
Watching the VVF ceremony was incredible; as a symbol of the new life they are about to begin there is a celebration. Members of the family come into the ward, along with all the nurses. There are speeches and thank yous and also the odd clinical bit of post op instruction which I will paraphrase for you (“Remember now, no mama papa business for at least six months”) to which everyone laughed. These women are so elated in such a huge shift in lifestyle and acceptance and they are sent out with a new set of clothes to symbolise their new life. There is some singing and dancing and sheer delight for all involved. Seeing how distressed these patients are, most of them never knew it could be remedied and when they see that a lot of other women are in the same position it must help with the emotional healing as they often feel so isolated.
Benin is the home of Voodoo and it is well practised here from what I believe. It has however been great to take these people in under our care and pray with them before commencing any surgery. Dr Gary Parker (resident surgeon) has lived on the ship for 22 years and it is most humbling watching the genuine compassion he has for his patients.
Dr James McDaniel (ortho surgeon) and I met for the first time on Tuesday and he is about 70 years old! He was so welcoming and pleased to have us, he is a very jolly, grandfather figure with such integrity and cares as much for his crew as he does his patients.
I have found only one fellow county person since being here, a girl from County Down, however I’ve got Weegies here too! So I get the best of both worlds! It’s good to have them as the rest of the crew are from all over the world, mostly Canada, America and of course Texans! I am hoping not to embarrass myself by mimicking them but you know, for me it's really hard to do that!!
It is hard to communicate with the patients as it always is in the operating theatre; however I have adopted a patient and I get to befriend them visiting them during their whole stay on board. The resources we have are excellent under the circumstances. It really is a community on board with events happening every evening but with so many people it’s difficult to get to know people properly as there is a core of long term servers and then short term and then me in the middle who is neither a short term or a long term server. I am still ready for this challenge though and I believe it’s just a great place for me to be right now... and I’m ready to jump into all aspects of ship life. Been practising my French too ... not bad! can get my way around hold a small conversation, chuffed with that for now. It really does come flooding back when you are in the environment. Still got a long way to go but time is something I do have.
Just taking one day at a time absorbing as much as I can, recognising that none of us here is perfect, but it’s great knowing that God will use me here, flaws and all. I’m praying I get everything out of this trip He wants to show me. As my first week is almost over and I’m a little more familiar with my surroundings I can begin to get into a proper routine I hope. Yesterday evening after dinner I headed up to deck 7, I took Big Chris Tomlin with me and book in tow in 30 degree heat. It will always be one of those memories I will retain. I came across a verse today which penetrated deep. To those who know me well you’ll know how much this would mean (yes you know who you are ;) -- Philippians 4 : 5.
God uses this ship purposefully and to see the remarkable differences it can have on broken hearts and lives it’s almost overwhelming. I think I should stop now. I went to the main city market today which was such an experience. We had people following us everywhere, I would say it was very polite of them to walk us round however I think they did have ulterior motives, not to rob us but hoping we would give some cash their direction. Going to a stilt village tomorrow which is an entire village sitting on top of the ocean, having to go by boat. Living quarters for a lot of people is a tin hut on the beach or a shack for want of a better word but that’s exactly what it is.
One final thought ... as I boarded the plane, a gentleman sat beside and we chatted for 3-4 hours; what was so exciting is that he is a public health official for U.S.A.I.D. He was on his way there to discuss the mortality rates in infants up to 5 years. The aim is to research this and put systems and support networks in place to eradicate this problem as much as possible. It gave me a lot of insight and it was thoroughly interesting ... so I have made contact now with someone who said he would be willing to help if I got involved in such a career! Amazing!
I could even say more however I can save that for now. I trust this email finds everyone well and the next instalment next month I will cut shorter I promise!
I would appreciate prayer for physical endurance, that I would be bold enough to take on new challenges without fear of negative outcomes and finally keeping me safe in the operating room with the risk of injury from instruments and the subsequent rate of HIV/AIDS present.
Ciao for now! Pamela
