Mamadu Madieu Jalloh

Wide eyed little Mamadu only knew a life of fear. Apart from his close family, his only friend was a toy motor car.  He would play with this toy for endless hours every day. It took him into his own make believe world where no-one called him unforgiving names or kicked dust in his face.  At the tender age of fifteen months his future looked bleak.

Mariama, his mother, had met her husband in a village and soon they settled and had their first son. Initially it was a contented family with his father fortunate to have a relatively stable job as a butcher whilst his mother was a housewife looking after the baby.  Their second son Mamadu was born but his birth would change their comfortable happy routines into a daily struggle.

Born with a cleft lip he had been rejected by society.  They were not kind to physical imperfections especially a facial disorder that was impossible to hide. His safety could easily be jeopardised by a few distracted moments so his mother watched over him at all times.



Mamadu’s life had been traumatized

by fear and sadness before he arrived

at Mercy Ships for cleft lip treatment.



One day, they received news that could change the course of Mamadu’s future forever.  An uncle told Mariama about a children’s clinic in Aberdeen, Freetown. It was a long journey taking several days but Mariama seized the opportunity and took Mamadu to the clinic. The doctor examined Mamadu before relaying disappointing news that they were unable to treat the condition.

Mariama tried to conceal her sadness as her world began to crumble. She knew this had been Mamadu’s only hope to receive treatment. However, the doctor then smiled and handed her a leaflet telling her that Mercy Ships can heal this condition and the ship had arrived in Freetown.

Mamadu was accepted for treatment at the Mercy Ships screening day. Within a few weeks Mamadu received treatment from the world class medical teams aboard the Africa Mercy. This ship is unique in that all the crew are professional volunteers from around the globe taking part in the Mercy Ships West African mission to walk in the footsteps of Jesus to heal the forgotten poor.



After surgery, Mamadu was reflective and quiet as the

 smile began to form with each day of healing.



Mamadu’s Muslim family discovered a greater depth of happiness during Mamadu’s treatment by Mercy Ships than they had ever experienced before.   When it was time to go home Mariama said she can now plan to send Mamadu to school so that he will one day become a doctor.  As they left the Outpatients room a beaming Mariama said “I am very happy. There no longer daily stress. I am so thankful to Mercy Ships for what they have done.”



The once fearful little boy was happy and relaxed when he prepared to return home with a beautiful smile.