Mercy Ships is part of a global Christian community that operates hospital ships staffed by dedicated volunteers worldwide, offering free, life-changing surgeries to those in need, especially in Africa. Providing a wide range of medical services, including cataract removals, cleft lip repairs, orthopaedic procedures, and maxillofacial surgeries, Mercy Ships delivers exceptional care to individuals who would otherwise face significant barriers to access. We love sharing life stories, and the story of a little boy, Menisco, hereunder, was written by Ivanova Nono Fotso and edited by Zeddy Kosgei.
We bring you the unaltered story so you can share in the joy of a little boy whose life changed through strangers’ compassion. We hope that you will share the love and joy further and that it will inspire someone to become involved.
“When Menisco smiles, one could almost forget the difference that marks his lips. His smile is warm and sincere, reaching all the way to his eyes. But the seven-year-old boy is unlikely to forget it. For years, the comments from other children in his village were a constant reminder. ‘They say I am ugly,’ Menisco shared quietly. ‘They call me ‘big cleft lip.’’ “Sometimes he stayed silent when the mocking began. He would look down and walk away without joining the other children at play.
But other times, he answered with a wisdom far beyond his years. ‘You don't know if your children too will have cleft lip,’ he told them.
“Even before surgery, Menisco carried hope that one day things could change. ‘I said that it will be fixed one day,’ he explained. “Watching her son endure rejection was painful for Julia, his mother. ‘I really feel sorry, and I don't know what to do because most of the kids reject him,’ she said. One Day It Will Be Fixed “The family had heard surgery would be expensive, so they never tried to pursue treatment. Then they heard on the radio that Mercy Ships was coming to Madagascar and offering free surgery for children with conditions like Menisco’s.
“At the HOPE Center, the outpatient care center where patients stay before surgery, Menisco met other children with cleft lips for the first time. Together they played, rode bicycles, and waited for the surgeries that could change their futures. “Menisco’s operation lasted nearly three hours and went well. After a few days of recovery, he finally saw the repaired lip he had imagined for so long. ‘I’m happy because my lip is fixed,’ he said with a shy smile. ‘It’s done by Mercy Ships.’ “Julia’s relief was just as overwhelming.
‘I’m happy, so very happy that my son’s surgery is done. Both of us are truly very happy,’ she said. ‘And I’m truly grateful to Mercy Ships.’ “More than anything, Julia hopes her son keeps the same resilient spirit that carried him through years of ridicule.
‘I really see that he is a brave kid, always cheerful,’ she said. ‘I truly hope he makes it through school and has a bright future. And I don’t want him to change the kind of person he is now.’ “As they prepared to return home, Menisco already knew what he wanted to say to the children who mocked him for years. ‘Look,’ he said proudly, ‘it’s fixed now. What will you say again?’
NOTE: Every surgery changes more than a face. It can restore confidence, hope, and a child’s future. Discover how you can support Mercy Ships’ mission. Website: https://mercyships.co.za/ (Pictures by Tirsa Tapia)