Esther

Esther is a 25 year-old likeable girl with a thoughtful personality. She has emerged a whole person despite some awful experiences in the last 7 years.

In 2000 she had an unplanned pregnancy when she was a 17 year–old school-girl. The labour took place behind her house with a ‘birthing attendant’ from the neighbourhood. It went on and on for 3 days and nights. Eventually her family collected a lot of money and 2 blood donors and she was hurried to a mission hospital in Mattru her nearest town, where they carried out a caesarean section. The baby was dead, as they expected, but some awful injuries to her bladder and rectum had also occurred. Afterwards her urine and faeces started to leak uncontrollably. She was also limping badly because her right leg had been injured by squatting for long hours during the delivery. At a stroke her whole life completely fell apart. There was nothing to look forward to.

Five long years passed until she heard that ‘Mercy Ships’ had opened a hospital in Freetown to help women with her sort of problem. A special clinic at the mission hospital was arranged for these women. Her hopes rose, but they were soon dashed when she was told by the nurse from Mercy Ships, “I am very sorry, your injuries are too great for us to deal with at present. But come back in 3 months, and maybe we can help you.” She came back, but the answer was the same. On the third occasion, however she was taken by the nurse to a mission hospital near Freetown where a big abdominal operation was carried out. She bled afterwards and needed blood transfusions. The rectal problem was cured, but she was still leaking urine.

Two years later Esther was taken again to Freetown, this time to the Mercy Ships hospital in Aberdeen, a place by the sea she came to love. Everyone was so kind. A very experienced fistula surgeon was visiting, and she managed to close the big scarred hole in Esther’s bladder. She went home dry at night, but still leaking when she walked about.

In May 2008 she came again, her sixth trip. Dr Dave was there, who said he could possibly make her dry by stitching some tissue from her abdominal wall under the mouth of her bladder. The operation was a success. She was dry. She could now walk about freely with no fear of smell or wetness.

Dr Dave’s wife Helen was there too, who always had a smile on her face. Esther learnt some basic craft skills from her during previous visits and she made and sold a variety of items. She went to a craft school in her town and learnt to make other things. During Esther’s final visit Helen chose her to learn to run a telephone business. As she left she happily took a big black telephone with her. Now people in her village will come to her and make phone calls, and charge up their mobiles! It’s taken time, but Esther’s life and hope has been restored.