Bringing Hope and Healing

When you mainly work on decks 5-11, it is easy to almost forget what is happening on decks 3 and 4! Down there is a modern and very well equipped hospital. We joined Joy on a comprehensive tour of all the amazing work they do - from the operating rooms to the wards. Patient confidentiality doesn't allow us to take photos with any patients in but we took a few where we were allowed.

Once we were properly attired we were off...we saw where the patients arrive to, the pre-op room, the post-op room and even got to peep through the window of the operating room while surgery was going on.

All the beds in the wards are set up with a second bed underneath for a caregiver to sleep in if needed (usually a relative).

Then we visited the ancillary services like the pathology lab and radiography room, where our friend Maaike showed us their state of the art CT scanner, and the sterilisation area. Kate introduced us to all they do in the rehab department with a team of dedicated physios and occupational therapists. We also saw the training room used for teaching local medics. The Education, Training and Advocacy team work specifically with local doctors and nurses to improve their knowledge and skills, ensuring that there is lasting benefit to the country when the ship leaves.

But for us the greatest joy has been visiting the patients during 'visiting hours' and hearing their stories of what God has done for them through Mercy Ships in bringing them healing and restoring their hope. They are treated with such love and dignity that many are reluctant to go home!

Some of them move to the Low Care Unit or to the Hope Centre (an off-ship facility run by Mercy Ships for pre and post operative patients) while they are still receiving rehab and before they are ready to go home. Many of the children have been here for many months and it has been such fun to get to know them over these last four weeks - we are known as Uncle Andrew and Auntie Alice! They love to play games and have fun. It is good to be reminded that we play a small part in enabling the bigger mission of making it possible for these doctors and nurses to change people's lives forever.