First Surgeries on the Africa Mercy! Click here to view a brief video!

The first surgeries were performed on the Africa Mercy! It was a day of celebration - June 25th - in Monrovia, Liberia!

We awoke to the first eye surgery patients arriving and the ladies gathering for the VVF (obstetric) screening on the dockside.



We soon heard singing and praising coming from the dockside where the patients were waiting!

You can view a slideshow by clicking here! Be sure scroll down, if needed to read the captions and click next on the upper right hand side of the photo to go to the next slide. In the video and slideshow...you can see the jubilation as our first patient celebrated being able to see again!

During the day, we would pray and watch the patients carefully escorted down the stairs for surgery and after the eye surgery they were gently escorted up the stairs and down the gangway to await the next day's removal of the eye patch!

Many of the ladies for the VVF surgery were taken down to the ward to await their surgeries in the coming week. VVF surgeries began on Tuesday, June 26th!

I am privileged to be able to adopt-a-patient, Bendu Johnson! She is approximately 36 years old and has leaked urine for many years. She speaks and understands some english, but she mainly speaks a native language. She lives far away in a village and doesn't read. She is a Christian and has asked me to read her Bible stories. She is a beautiful lady and had her surgery on Friday, June 29th! She is doing well and normally VVF patients are in the ward for 2 weeks or longer. We are able to go visit in the ward as they recuperate. Bendu doesn't have any family with her for support, so I enjoy spending time with her on my off time from reception duties.

We are so blessed to be here and a part of the realization of the vision for the Africa Mercy! And to have a small part in the restoration of so many lives here in Liberia!