Weekly Scoop [29 February]

NEWS UPDATES

Goiter Program

Goiter operations are an annual feature on the ship's surgical calendar. Already 41 patients have received thyroid treatment and goiter surgery during this field service, with another 10 people scheduled before general surgeries are completed. 

Commonly goiters are prevented by an additive to salt. Processed salt has an important added ingredient--iodine--which our thyroid glands need to function normally. However most Malagasy use a locally sourced salt; they don't buy it processed from a supermarket. Madagascar is historically iodine deficient, and some regions produce an unusually high number of goiter cases. This is guessed to be a combination of environmental and genetic causes.

Hopital Be Renovations

"Paul Farmer is quoted as saying: 'Surgery is the forgotten stepchild of sustainable development in the developing world.' Mercy Ships provides training on purpose, we call it capacity building. The goal is to increase the level of healthcare delivery in the country so it is far stronger after we leave." 

-Don Stephens, Founder of Mercy Ships

Hospital Chaplains Encourage Patients

Music speaks what cannot be expressed

Soothes the mind and gives it a rest

Heals the heart and makes it whole

Flows from heaven to the soul

-Author Unknown

We are so thankful for our hospital chaplaincy team that come and bring our patients hope every morning through songs and words of encouragement!

Thank You!

Thank you to our donors for your support in bringing hope and healing to the world's forgotten poor!

PATIENT UPDATES

Lalao's New Look

Lalao lived for 13 years with a goiter--a developing growth in her thyroid. Eventually she could no longer turn her head or breathe easily lying on her back. But the biggest impact was the loss of her desperately needed job simply because of her appearance. The relatively simple, free, goiter operations she received on the Mercy Ship brought immediate change for Lalao. She can't wait to show her family--and get back to work!

Serafine's Chance

What began as a small lump in Serafine's neck grew over 34 years until she looked like she had swallowed an orange. People would laugh at her deformity, so she wore a scarf around her neck in public, despite the intense Malagasy heat. Five years ago, the goiter finally prevented Serafine from bending to work in the family's rice fields. Consulting a doctor was too expensive, so she visited a traditional healer. He charged a lot of money for bogus treatments and then left her in the same condition. She was out of options until she heard about Mercy Ships.

Free from her burden at last, Serafine says, "I had no money for surgery. Thank you for coming to Madagascar to take care of us. I am really, really happy and thank God for sending Mercy Ships."

PRAYER REQUESTS

With just a few months to go there is still quite a bit of healing happening aboard the Africa Mercy. Will you join us in praying for our patients as they reach the final steps of their journey? Also please continue to keep our crew in your prayers that they can continue to stay healthy to finish strong the mission in Madagascar.