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 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.