Wow time is zipping by- and yes I am still alive- just not so good this year at blogging- sorry. I’ll try and give you a pictorial update of the past few week.

One patient story to start- there are so many but this little girl has attitude or maybe you’d call it spunk- but coming from her background it’s impressive and understandable. I have heard the saying very often that ‘when she was good she was very very good and when she was bad she was horrid’- her doctor is the first to admit it. She came to the ship from Cameroon with her uncle and a local missionary doctor- Sarah who has been a great friend. Abandoned at birth by her father and then as a 4 yr old by her mother she was brought up in the care of her grandmother in a remote village. She became sick and developed noma- often referred to as the the face dissolving disease- for the very reason that within days it can devour your face. It is fatal in 90% of cases- she came to a missionary hospital- 6yrs old and weighing only 10kgs and they prevented the spread of the Noma. She then came to Mercy Ships in Togo to have her face reconstructed. To show you the before photo’s would be to confronting- though her face I would liken to a building that had had one side blow out by a bomb and then had scarred in the healing process. She left the ship with a new face on Thursday- it was bitter sweet to see them go- good friends get made and then disappear- but thats how it works here.
Her pictures tell of the fun times and discovery of her skin grafts- only the nurses can tell of the mischief this determined little miss got up to in between.

TOO Cute! Aissa sporting the stunning headdress adorning most of the maxillo facial patients.
The green bike- which all told was not to be shared without a war :)

Celebrating Togo independance day on the ward

Entertainment on the ward during the recovery. A doctor in the making maybe.....
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Aissa inspecting her new face

Well from feral we ladies have become feminine since our Ghana trip. Below: we frocked up for the annual Mercy ships film night. It was lots of fun and laughs as we enjoyed home made films put together by the crew- kids and adults alike.

I have been visiting local orphanages and a special needs school for disabled children. We play games, tell bible stories and have a lot of fun. Both the special needs school and the orphanage were impressive- they both had the most loving caring gentle teachers and such well behaved kids I was blown away. The kids are so gentle and caring of one another too- it is beautiful to see.



We must be suspicious as we have been surrounded by naval vessels for weeks. Last week we had a French navy ship sharing our dock- gun pointed our direction. But they were a very friendly bunch- took our crew on board for tours and visa versa. The French navy guys had these pristine white sailor suits with bright red pom poms on their hats- quite a sight to see. The Togolese navy ship- all two of them are our regular neighbours.



Well thats more than enough for one reading- Next time i'll tell you of the crazy and somewhat eventful night in the lab.
It can't be a month between blog entries this time as I shall be home in close to a month. Im getting excited!