Dorina

Settling into life on the Africa Mercy has been a journey of adjusting, learning and finding balance. the rhythm of workdays and days off is something I’ve had to be intentional about, making sure I find a good routine that keeps me grounded. One of the greatest privileges of working here is interacting with patients who are waiting for surgery, but it also comes with emotional highs and lows. Their resilience and hope are inspiriting. Some travel three days by bus just to make it to the Hope Center, hoping for a chance at healing. However, once they arrive there’s still uncertainty. Surgery isn’t guaranteed as each patient must be seen by a surgeon, undergo scans and bloodwork. If a condition is too aggressive or cancerous, the heartbreaking decision may be made that surgery isn’t a safe option. 

There is a fine line we walk in medicine, the line between helping and harming. While we strive to bring healing, there are times when we also have to say no. And that reality is devastating. I’ve seen patients receive this news, and I’ve watched them leave returning home to the same challenges they came with. My prayer is their experience with Mercy Ships is still life-changing, that through their time here they feel seen, loved and encouraged. Especially knowing the life changing hope that is found in Jesus’s death and resurrection. 

On the other hand, I’ve also been able to witness the beauty of transformation. We’ve started seeing post-op patients return, and the physical changes are incredible. Just this week, when I walked into work one morning and was greeted by a little girl who had previously had a tumour on her neck. Her incision was still covered with a dressing, but that didn’t stop her joy and eagerness to play. 

Even though we aren’t allowed to take personal photos of patients, a rule set in place by Mercy Ships to protect their privacy and healing journey, the stories and faces are printed on my heart forever.