The day I left the ship we had some very exciting news... during the night one of our children's mums (the child being the patient) began complaining of abdominal pain at 2am. She was 8 months pregnant but denied that he pain she was feeling was 'having a baby pain'. Our nurses called the doctor, and on the 'braking of the waters' called in one of our lovely nurses who is also a trained midwife. She arrived at around 4 am to examine the mum, and by 4.40 the baby was squeezed into the world, with mere paracetamol and a few 'it hurting plenty-o's'. No problems, super nurse Mandy was absolutely ecstatic to have helped bring this amazing new life into the world at just 4 pounds 9 ounces.
Not one patient on the ward batted an eyelid..perfectly normal occurrence in this culture! The baby was aptly named 'Mercy' and is doing well, although a little small. What a beautiful story to end my time!
The Blog of Grace Berry, 26 year old nurse from Birmingham, working onboard a mercy ship in Liberia
Where I'm situated
The ship is moored in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.
Mercy Ships
Who are Mercy Ships?
Mercy ships is a Christian organization which has been close to my heart for many years. Their focus is on the 'forgotten poor' and on providing health care and surgery, that in the western world is readily available, but in the places they serve is a luxury that the people cannot afford.
The main way help is given is through the use of ships which have been converted into hospitals.
Volunteer staff (like me!) live and work on board to keep the ship running, and to run theatres where people who come to the ship receive vtal surgical equipment. Procedures range from minor surgery such as cataract surgery to more major surgery; cleft pallet repair, tumour removal and and repairal of damage caued in childbirth.
Communities are served, often from hundres of miles around, bringing those served back from isolation, and, in many cases prevent early and unnecessary deaths.
Since 1978 Mercy ships have:
- performed more than 32,500 surgeries.
- treated more than 212,000 people
- performed more than 183,00 dental treatments
- taught over 14,500 local health care and professional workers
- taught 95,000 local people in primary health care
I serve with Mercy Ships. Everything here, however, is my personal opinion and is not read or approved before it is posted. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercy Ships.
The main way help is given is through the use of ships which have been converted into hospitals.
Volunteer staff (like me!) live and work on board to keep the ship running, and to run theatres where people who come to the ship receive vtal surgical equipment. Procedures range from minor surgery such as cataract surgery to more major surgery; cleft pallet repair, tumour removal and and repairal of damage caued in childbirth.
Communities are served, often from hundres of miles around, bringing those served back from isolation, and, in many cases prevent early and unnecessary deaths.
Since 1978 Mercy ships have:
- performed more than 32,500 surgeries.
- treated more than 212,000 people
- performed more than 183,00 dental treatments
- taught over 14,500 local health care and professional workers
- taught 95,000 local people in primary health care
I serve with Mercy Ships. Everything here, however, is my personal opinion and is not read or approved before it is posted. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercy Ships.
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