The first sight of three-month-old Paul revealed a feather-light bundle cradled in his desperate mother’s arms. His skin was paper-thin and his body remarkably tiny. He weighed just over two kilograms – less than he had when he was first born. The tiny baby was born with a … Read More
LISTEN ONLINE to RNZ’s Nine to Noon interviews nurse Deb Adesanya about the special bond speaking the local dialect gave when interfacing with her patients, and other remarkable aspects of her five-month voluntary service on the Mercy Ship. Listen online
VIDEO: 1min40 Somaya was born with a disfiguring cleft lip and cleft palate. Neighbors urged Somaya’s mother, Neny, to place the girl in an orphanage. But she told them “She is a gift from God! Soon I will find a solution to fix her lips and then she … Read More
Approaching the end of his apprenticeship electrician Nathan Collis had a hankering to do some voluntary work overseas – something that involved using his industrial electrical skills. “I was going to be made redundant as Pacific Steel shut, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity to go,” explains … Read More
Nurse Sue Clynes from Tauranga served two tours-of-duty in the Africa Mercy operating theatres. There is one day that stands out from many others in Sue’s mind. Here is Chara’s story; The child was only on the cusp of womanhood, yet she had already suffered far beyond the physical … Read More
Haingo was born in a tropical downpour. Even in the hut’s dim light it was clear Hiango’s tiny mouth was slashed by a bi-lateral cleft lip. Her mother Viviaby’s joy turned to sadness, and her father immediately rejected the newborn saying, “In our family we don’t have babies … Read More
Guaranteed to bring a grin! Watch how the love of Vernel’s Dad carried his little boy through some tough times. From a prenatal deformity to total transformation, Vernel’s Dad was his biggest cheer leader (duration 3 mins)
Neny’s life seemed to fall apart at every turn. When her daughter Somaya was born, Neny was deeply shocked to see her tiny baby’s mouth marred by a cleft lip and palate. She had never seen anything like it before. Somaya’s father was outraged. “This is not my … Read More
Sharon Walls, Mercy Ships NZ Communications Manager, is serving aboard Africa Mercy for a year with husband Graeme. Here she tells of her encounter with one of Mercy Ships’ patients in Madagascar: Haingo became part of my heart as I watched and prayed through her journey to … Read More
Thérèse’s husband was already struggling to provide for their family when Elisabeth was born with a cleft lip and palate. Neighbours openly laughed at Elisabeth’s face, saying there was nothing Thérèse could do to save her baby. Elisabeth was unable to breastfeed successfully due to her malformed palate, … Read More
