5th trip to Namina...

It has become a pleasure to visit Namina and her mom in their village. Mid-April, Gibrill, Osman and I set out to Bailor town again. We had a fun ferry crossing, taking many photos and talking to various people and met up with Namina and her brother in Lungi. We all got in Osman’s car and off we went. Fortunately the road was less dusty than last time! We spent some time on the dodgy bridge, partially to re-lay the wooden boards so that we could actually cross, but also to take some photos.

When we arrived Namina’s mom (Wara) and the rest of the (extended!) family welcomed us with open arms. I also saw my namesake, Sandra, who had grown quite a bit since our last visit. I brought many printed photos from our last trip, which were greatly accepted by all. While half the village spent time sharing around photos, we headed to the beach (about 2 minutes from the huts) and sat and enjoyed the cool breeze. Many children soon joined us of course.

We spent some time with the children, handed out biscuits and took a long walk on the beach. The fishermen were just coming in with their boats laden with fish, so that was entertaining for a bit. To be honest, it was just nice spending time with Namina’s family.

Later we had a big coloring session. With coloring pages I brought from home and a bunch of crayons given to me by my sister (thanks Maris!), we kept many children and even some adults very happy. They loved it. You have to remember that for some, this was the first time they colored! It was great to watch Namina and her brother color and comment on each other’s work. It has been a privilege to be a part of Namina’s life and see her flourish. Due to rainy season I don’t think I’ll be back for a little while, but I’m sure they’ll come to Freetown for a visit.

Trip to Namina's village...

On Saturday the 5^th of March I woke up at 6 am. I had a big trip planned- a visit to Namina and her mom in their village. Farrah, a taxi driver friend of mine came to my house at half past 6 and after loading up a huge bag of rice and some other gifts for the family, we headed towards town. On the way we picked up one of my former colleagues, Ramatu, who used to work with me as a nurse in the Aberdeen outpatient clinic.

By 8 am we were on the ferry, heading towards Lungi. From Lungi we were told it would be a 15-minute drive to Bailor town, Namina’s village. Wrong. We picked up her older brother Saidu, to show us the way and after 25 minutes we found ourselves in a remote area, driving in and out of very small villages. Saidu kept saying we were almost there. We came to a bridge and wondered if we could cross it. Saidu said taxis do it all the time. So Farrah braved it. The crossing was very noisy as the loose planks were moving about under the tires of the car. I loved watching Farrah’s face as he was driving across the rickety bridge. He was happy to make it to the other side and already dreaded having to cross the bridge again on the way back!

After 75 minutes we reached Bailor town; a peaceful village on the beach surrounded by palm trees. The people were friendly and of course Namina and her family, including her granny, were thrilled to see us. Many children crowded around fairly quickly to get a glimpse of us. I was happy to see Namina and Wara again, and loved the fact that I was able to get a glimpse of their lives.

With all of the children in tow, we walked to the beach and enjoyed picture taking and refreshing sips of coconut water. There was laughter all around. It was great to see Namina in her own environment. We walked further down the beach and then turned back up to the village and back to Namina’s house.

A few hours later we were served food. Culturally, the guests are given food and everyone else waits to eat at a later time. So the three of us were served a wonderful meal while everyone else remained busy in the kitchen or in the house. I would have loved to sit down and eat with everyone, but I know this was a way for them to show their appreciation and respect. Their hospitality meant a lot.

When we realized we would miss the two pm ferry, we sat around and talked some more and then left in time for the 4 pm ferry. Of course, we had to cross the bridge again. And this time, we actually got into trouble- the tire slipped through the planks and was stuck in between the metal bars of the bridge. After trying various tactics, we managed to get the car tire out. We went on our way again, thinking we would miss the 4 pm ferry but in the end, there was no 4 pm ferry and had to wait for the 5:30 pm ferry. I think we were home by 7:30 pm.

The visit was eye opening and I will treasure the memories. I was happy to see where Namina and Wara live and grateful for their hospitality. I think what I was reminded of most from the trip is Wara’s commitment to her daughter. Wara’s husband died a few years ago and she is now the sole caretaker of 7 children (of which two are above age 16). I thought about our journey to Bailor town and back – the cost, the time, the distance, the effort, the challenges. And I thought of Wara making that same trip every single week to get Namina to the clinic in Aberdeen for her wound care. They would take the ferry on a Monday, stay with relatives in Freetown, come for Namina’s appointments and then head back to Bailor town on a Friday evening. And Wara did this for months on end and never complained. Wara was determined and dedicated and I can certainly learn from her. It is her perseverance that pulled Namina through. And after months of follow-up and more months of waiting for the ship, it was a delight to be able to take Wara and Namina to the ship for Namina’s admission. I feel privileged to have played a part in Namina’s story and am glad that I will continue to be involved in their lives.

Quick update on Namina...

Almost 6 weeks ago Namina was admitted onboard the Africa Mercy.

I was able to go with her for her admission and see a good portion of the 4-hour surgery two days later.

I've been to visit Namina multiple times a week, first on the ship, then at the Hope Center.

She is recovering well and at the same time picking up words of Krio and English and becoming quite active and a bit troublesome : ) .

More on Namina very soon.

(Photo by Debra Bell)

More on Namina here and here

Namina's village...

Here's a glimpse of my time at Namina's village. I had the most amazing day on Saturday. Full of smiles and adventure. More on this soon...

Namina...

There is nothing quite like a visit from a long lost friend. For weeks I had been looking forward to seeing Namina and her mother again but not having any way to contact them, I was not sure when this reunion would take place.

You see, Namina was a patient of mine when I worked at the pediatric outpatient clinic in Aberdeen and I saw her regularly between January and June of 2009. Namina was fortunate to have survived a very lethal disease called ‘cancrum oris’ but unfortunately she was left with a large gaping hole in her face. With the help of my dedicated nursing staff, we were able to help three-year-old Namina with frequent dressing changes, nutritional support and tender care. Months of care followed and slowly the infection cleared and the wound started to heal. Throughout this time, Namina’s mother was an inspiration to me, traveling from Lungi to Freetown by ferry every Monday, so that Namina could come to the clinic 2-3 times a week for care, and then returning back to Lungi with Namina on Fridays. When I left in July 2009 it was difficult to say bye to Namina and her mom, but at least Namina was better and all she had to do was wait for her surgery.

Initially I was hoping to fly Namina and her mother to the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship run by the organization Mercy Ships, currently docked in Togo. However, a better option presented itself. In April of this year I found out that the Africa Mercy is going to conduct it’s next field service in Sierra Leone starting in February 2011. This means that Namina does not have to go anywhere. She can stay in country and have her first surgery here and although this means Namina will have to wait longer for her surgery, it is definitely an easier option from a logistical point of view.

On Friday June 25^th I was sitting in the office working behind my laptop when I heard a knock on the door. I said come in and the door opened. As I looked up to see who entered I was delighted to see Namina and her mother step into the office. Namina’s mom was very happy to see me and we quickly started chatting about Namina and how both of them were doing. I do not think Namina really remembered who I was but that is okay. I am hoping I will see more of her and be able to win her over once again. It would be great to see where they live and be able to assist them where necessary.

I am very excited that I will be in Sierra Leone when Namina goes onboard the Africa Mercy for her surgery. I am hoping I will be able to be there in the operating room with her and observe a miracle unfolding before my eyes as an amazing maxillo-facial surgeon and role model, Dr. Gary Parker, begins to reconstruct her face. I can’t wait for that day.

Namina's story...

Three and a half year old Namina and her mother arrived at the Mercy Ships outpatient clinic for children on January 21, 2009 after being referred from the Lungi Government Hospital following a one month admission there. She had been referred to the Mercy Ships clinic for surgical reconstruction of her face.

Namina had been inflicted with a devastating disease known as “cancrum oris” or “noma”. This disease is rightly referred to as the “face of poverty”, affecting the poorest of the poor. At the age of 3 ½ years, Namina weighed only 10 kilograms; her malnutrition making her more susceptible to infection. It started as a small lesion in her mouth but soon spread and turned into a gangrenous flesh eating disease causing massive destruction of her facial tissues. With a high mortality rate, few people survive. Yet Namina was a survivor, but it left her face disfigured.

The initial thought was to send her back to Lungi because this was not a condition that could be treated in the clinic; reconstructive surgery was not available. However, within minutes this little girl captured the hearts of those working in the clinic. The doctor went ahead and examined Namina to see the extent of the damage. It was bad. Sure enough there was a gaping hole in the left side of her face. It was a hideous sight. It was heartbreaking. However, Namina had already proved she was a fighter. She had survived the intial infection and it was now our job to make sure she continued to improve. Not only did she have a disfigured face, she also suffered from malnutrition and malaria. Immediately, the staff provided the necessary medications and nutritional support needed, as well as the wound care that was required. It was obvious that it would take months for the wound to heal enough so that reconstructive surgery could be considered. The follow-up was intense.

For weeks Namina and her mother came to the clinic for wound care; in the beginning as often as three to four times a week. The wound care was often a painful process in which the wound was thoroughly flushed and cleaned with saline solution and then dressed with sterile gauze. This often brought tears to Namina’s eyes, but once the dressing change was over, she was ready to play again and always looked forward to choosing a toy from the toy box. Nutritional support was given to Namina in the form of a high protein drink and as time went by, progress could be seen. Not only was the wound starting to heal, but Namina was becoming stronger and healthier.

After five months, Namina has turned into a vibrant little girl. She still has a small hole in the left side of her face, but it has healed considerably. Namina is happy. And both her mother and the staff of the outpatient clinic are very pleased with the results. It is now time to move on to the next step and look into possibilities for reconstructive surgery. The process is not over yet, but Namina has come a long way.

Other posts related to Namina can be found here and here.

Permission from Namina's mother was given for the publishing of her story.