Hospital Pictures and Updates!

I have been asked by several of you for more pictures of what I am doing in the hospital. While I would love to take silly selfies with all of my patients, this is not allowed. Thankfully our communications department takes photos and I am able to use those on this blog. So... ENJOY!

Mr A is a cheeky little dude with big personality and heart. He was here to have both hands and one foot repaired during Nov/Dec. 

These two (Miss M and Miss B) are pure entertainment. I love seeing the kids bond over their shared experience both at home and now in the healing journey. 

HAPPY FEET! 

This is one of our daycrew (locals from Sierra Leone who work for Mercy Ships). He does so much for the rehab department including translating, doing exercises with patients, cleaning up after the therapists and much more. Daycrew are invaluable!!

This is another daycrew worker with me and Miss A and her sister-in-law. Each patient under 18 needs a caregiver... most of the time a parent, but sometimes another trusted adult who can come be with the child for months. Miss A was slow to warmup to me, but now runs up to me with a big hug. 

Happy Miss A!

She really is a sweet kiddo. 

This is Miss S and she has been a HANDFULL! lol. But on a serious note, a lot of this kids have been through trauma/grief that we can't even imagine and need extra love and grace. She used to scream when I came into her ward and now I get high 5's and smiles. She will even start walking to rehab because she wants to come play with me. She still has a long way to go, but she will be one I remember forever. 

Oh little Miss M!! She had this sad faraway expression for the first few weeks she was with us. Now she comes running into the rehab room and has to hug everyone before she can start exercises. Her mom also hugs me when she sees me and thanks me for coming to Sierra Leone to help her daughter. 

Mama doing Miss M's hair. 

Thank you for all of your prayers for my patients. We are moving into a time where they will be getting their casts off and strengthening those legs that have been in cast for about 10 weeks. There is over 50 kids ages 4-14 who have had orthopedic surgery on their legs and are progressing right along. I'll keep you all updated as I can about their progress. This work is exhausting but the most rewarding of my career. 

As always, please reach out with any thoughts/questions/suggestions. We love hearing from you!