Sambany

Each field service has one or two remarkable stories that are woven into the fabric that is Mercy Ships. This January, Sambany heard on the radio that there might be help in Tamatave. Six people carried him on their backs for 2 days as they walked from his village to find transportation to the Africa Mercy. He presented with the largest tumor that they had ever encountered in their history.

What might have been a relatively simple procedure years earlier, was now a very high risk endeavor. He presented with a very low hemoglobin and the compression of surrounding structures suggested that there was a significant chance that he might not survive the surgery. He felt that he had no future. He was willing to risk everything for a chance to rid himself of this tumor that now isolated him from any sort of life. He wanted the chance to be treated as "human" once again. 

The blood bank for surgical patients consists of the crew on board at that time. As the call for donors is announced, a line of volunteers forms almost immediately outside the lab. Sambany was in surgey for more than 12 hours and required more than 15 units of blood. These are the blood donors that shared their life so that Sambany might have a chance to get home.

One of the most remarkable moments is when the patient emerges post-operatively and is provided a mirror to view their transformation. Each time a patient looks in that mirror we feel truly honored that we could deliver such a gift, and saddened that they have had to suffer rejection, and isolation for so long.

Not every case appears as dramatic as Sambany to those observing from the bedside, but the impact upon their lives and future is no less powerful.