This Easter, will you choose love that refuses to let go?
Eight-year-old Musu walked up the gangway of the Global Mercy with hope in her heart and a folded left arm – the result of a severe burn scar contracture that had tightened her skin and bent her little finger. Burn contractures like Musu’s are a serious complication, where scar tissue thickens and tightens over time, resulting in functional limitations.
In countries like Sierra Leone, where access to safe, affordable, and specialised surgical care is limited, injuries like these often go untreated.
An Accident That Changed Everything
Musu is full of life, engaging, and always wearing an endearing smile on her face. She comes from a small, beautiful, close-knit village in southern Sierra Leone; a region known for agriculture. Children there grow up playing together, and most meals are cooked over firewood. It was during one of those playful times that Musu, then just 6 years old, suffered an accident that would alter her life and lead to her contracture.
Her grandmother was boiling palm oil over a wood fire while making soap. In a moment, a boy accidentally pushed Musu and the pot of boiling oil spilled on her.
Racing Against Scars
When the accident happened, Musu’s mother Mamie was in the market doing business. “I saw a call from my small brother. He said, ‘your daughter has been in an accident… hot oil spilled on her,’” she recalled. After receiving the news, she rushed home. “When I saw my child, I didn’t feel good, I was not happy. As a mother, I felt very bad because she was not born this way.”
Mamie promptly took Musu to the closest hospital. “They applied some treatments, and we stayed there for three months and six days, but no improvement,” she shared.
Afterwards, they tried another hospital, where they spent another three months. But it wasn’t until the third hospital visit that they saw some improvement. Most of Musu’s injuries were on her left side, with scars stretching from her face to her hand.
Eventually, Mamie took her daughter home and found a nurse to continue the treatment. “She got well, but she was not able to straighten her [left] hand again because the hand was now folded,” she explained.
Despite everything, Musu remained optimistic. “My first impression of Musu was that she was a very sweet girl with a big smile,” shared Louisa Dunne, a volunteer ward nurse from Australia.
“Musu has a very big personality,” Louisa added. “She’s so smiley, so bright, so enthusiastic, and just has a lot to live for, with a huge, bright future ahead of her.”
Mamie agreed, “She’s bold. She likes her friends. She loves doing a lot of things at home. Before she had the accident, she was helping me a lot.”
Mamie believes the accident also slowed down Musu’s progress. “I feel really bad because it has delayed her,” she said. Like the level that she is in at school, she’s not supposed to be in grade two, she should be in grade four or five.”
Dr de Waal explained, “She’s effectively got one compromised limb. When she wants to do things, she has to largely rely on her other arm.” He added that because of her arm’s appearance, other children likely gave her a hard time.
A Phone Call Gives New Hope
One day, Mamie was plaiting her hair when she got a call from one of her sisters who works at a government hospital, informing her about Mercy Ships and their free surgeries. She was sceptical for a moment, but her sister reassured her and encouraged her to go and register Musu quickly.
“When I heard that they could do surgery for my child, I felt good,” Mamie shared. “Even Musu was so happy, she asked me, ‘Mama, do you believe that they will be able to operate this hand?’ I told her let’s leave everything to God.”
On 15th November 2024, Musu received surgery on the Global Mercy, which lasted about three hours. For Mamie, it wasn’t just a medical breakthrough, it reinforced her hope in the existence of God. “God is the one doing everything. When He says yes, it’s yes, and when He says no, it’s no,” Mamie reiterated.
Healing Through Movement
Rehab for Musu involved wearing thermoplastic splints to stretch her arm joints and prevent the scar tissue from contracting again. “I’ve found her to be very brave,” said Karen Simpson, a volunteer hand therapist from Australia. “She pushes herself. She does the things that I ask her to do, even though they’re a bit painful.”
Even on difficult days, Musu showed up with determination. “She enjoys herself. And you can see the joy in her face as she does an activity that is fun but is also stretching her,” Karen remarked.
In the ward, Musu’s playful spirit shone. “She was such a happy little girl who became [like] a nursing assistant in the ward,” said Louisa. “She was always helping with the younger children. Once, she wore a stethoscope and helped with the rounds. We had a lot of fun.”
Healing Beyond the Scars
After nearly nine weeks on the ship, Musu was finally discharged. “When we were discharged, I felt good,” Mamie said, her face lighting up. “Because the way my child was when we came to the ship is not the way she was when we left the ship. We went there with sickness and returned home with joy,” she added, bursting into song.
Though the physical scars remain, Musu has regained functional use of her left arm and hand. She can now stretch, grip, and carry out many tasks she couldn’t do since the accident.
“She now comes to school regularly. She moves around freely. She is lively and plays with her friends. I am happy for her,” shared Samuel Fatorma, Musu’s teacher. He added that Musu is so much happier and doing well in school.
As a result of Musu’s successful surgery and subsequent healing, Mamie holds renewed hope for her daughter’s future: “She said she wants to be a nurse, and I told her that I will support her.”
