Mercy Ships helps Fifalina to walk again

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Mercy Ships is an international organisation that operates the largest charity-run hospital ship in the world. This incredible ship is crewed by volunteers who provide free surgery and medical care to some of the poorest people in the world.

Did you know that two out of three people in world cannot get safe, affordable surgery when they need it? Something we take for granted in the UK simply isn’t an option to vast swathes of the world’s population.

Here is a story about how Mercy Ships transformed one little girl’s life in Africa.

When tiny, nine-year-old Fifalina first arrived at the Mercy Ships admissions tent, her legs seemed to be slowly folding beneath her. They could no longer hold her upright.

Her mother, Ludvine, had to carry her to school, and she couldn’t play with the other children.

Fifalina’s parents scraped together enough money to take her to the doctor – where they were told that nothing could be done, and that the little girl simply needed more calcium. So they took her to a healer, who massaged her legs. Nothing helped. Fifalina’s legs continued to weaken.

Then Ludvine heard about Mercy Ships on the TV. “They said Mercy Ships is healing,” she explains. “I wanted to see healing in my daughter.” They went to a patient screening nearby, and Fifalina got an
appointment.

Mercy Ships consultant Dr Frank Haydon performed complex orthopaedic surgeries, correcting Fifalina’s twisted legs by rotating her bones through more than 200 degrees. A series of pins now hold her knees and hips in alignment.

After months of physical therapy with our volunteers, Fifalina has re-learned how to walk, and can even balance on one leg, stand on tiptoes – and play with her friends at school.

Support Mercy Ships today to help more little girls like Fifalina at www.mercyships.org.uk

You can support Mercy Ships UK  by donating unwanted clothing via
www.icollectclothes.co.uk online or booking a collection by calling  0344 879 4417