In West Africa, a child with bowed legs is feared, considered to be cursed by evil spirits. So, barely a month after Mariama’s entrance into the world, her parents fled in the night – leaving their tiny, fragile baby girl on a doorstep. Alone and helpless in the terror of the night.
But God had a different plan for this beautiful life. The next morning, the child’s grandmother found out what had happened and rushed to the rescue. Mariama was saved.
This courageous grandmother confronted each challenge with admirable strength, striving to give her granddaughter a bright future. There were daily frustrations – the exhaustion of hard work, the difficulty in finding good nutrition for a few pennies, and the escalating ridicule of Mariama’s deformity.
As she grew, Mariama drew hope and strength from her grandmother’s courage. The little girl’s feisty nature emerged, giving her the determination to survive. A strong bond developed between the little girl and her grandmother, as they faced the daily battles together.
This bond is evident when her grandmother fondly remembers the times she held little Mariama’s hand as they strolled to the mosque, with the little girl skipping along beside her. With a smile, she recalls her decision to send the child to a Christian school which offered the best education. This was a grave sacrifice, but she graciously opened the door for Mariama to enter into another religion “…in support of the best learning opportunities for her future.”
At four years old, Mariama embraced Christianity with all of her heart. Her life was brightened by joyous bursts of gospel songs and flamboyant African dance. Her determination was now supported by her new faith. She believed whole-heartedly that God would heal her legs. It was just a small matter of timing.
One day her grandmother heard a radio jingle announcing Mercy Ships had arrived in Sierra Leone. At the medical screening Mariama received an incredible offer for treatment. There had never been such a whirl of excitement in their simple home as they prepared for the trip to the hospital ship.
A few days later they boarded the ship. The strange surroundings suddenly caused a wave of uneasiness for her grandmother and a feeling of vulnerability for Mariama. But her grandmother bravely stated, “It’s just a matter of walking through the storm.” However, there was no storm awaiting them. Instead, they were greeted by a room of smiling nurses who immediately swept them into a reassuring, compassionate world.
Mariama made an immediate impression. With her burgundy hair twisted into a pineapple ponytail, she mischievously peeped out from behind the hospital beds. For the first time, her charismatic personality took precedence over her usual determined fiery attitude. The world on the hospital ship was a wonderful place, even before the surgery. No one tormented her. She revelled in this new happiness.
After the surgery, Mariama experienced pain. Her legs were encased in thick casts restricting every movement. Her grandmother feared the little girl would never walk again – casting a new shadow of sadness on their spirits. Confused and frightened, Mariama angrily lashed out at all those caring for her.
But the continuous kindness and compassion dissipated her anger, and the pain subsided. Underneath her feisty persona, there was an abundance of love ready to share. As this love stirred up inside her heart, she began to sing her favorite gospel songs. With great delight, the other people on the ward joyfully joined in. The comforting music flowed over her, and her body responded in rhythmic African moves. In these moments, her heavy casts were no longer a burden.
Mariama determinedly practiced walking. Soon the casts were removed, and she prepared to return home.
Then an unexpected problem arose, marring the joy of going home. As Mariama’s health had been restored, her feet had grown. She had no shoes. Without shoes, she could not go to school.
On the last night before she went home, she received a surprise gift. A crew member gave her new pink sandals for school.
Mariama was elated! Her anger was long forgotten, and she was ready to tackle the world with love. And her happy grandmother just smiled and exclaimed, “Praise God!”
Story by Claire Ross
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