SIERRA LEON-Abraham-the boy with the scrap hand

Abraham's hand before surgery

Abraham Bangali (witten by himself)



Abraham's hand before surgery



“This is the story about Abraham and Mercy Ships …,” Abraham Bangali writes on a fresh sheet of paper in his cherished sketchbook. An avid artist, Abraham was bitten on the wrist by a snake as an infant. As a result, his hand contracted over time until it was permanently bent back at a 45-degree angle to his wrist. Below is Abraham’s story, in his own words:



Abraham's hand after surgery during physio therapy excercises

  When I was in my home, I was abandoned by my friends. Wherever they were I did not go there because of my problem, and wherever I went people laughed at me because of my problem. One day, my brother took me to Kenema and put me in school. When I started attending, I had a lot of friends, but some of the students hated me because of my problem, and wherever I went people pointed at me.   

There was a girl I liked. Her name was Zainab. I told her my name, but unfortunately she forgot my name. One day, this girl went to my house to visit me. I was in my room. She went to my parents and asked for me. She said, ‘I am looking for a boy.’



Abraham scetches the Africa Mercy



My mother asked, ‘What is the name of the boy?’

She replied to my mother, ‘The boy with the scrap hand.’ As she described me like that, I came out. When she saw me, she became ashamed about what she said about me.

One day, I was listening to the radio, and I heard news about Mercy Ships saying that whoever had a problem like cancer, burns, etc. should go to the hospital and register. That very day, I went to government hospital and did my registration, and the doctor gave me an appointment card that I should come here on September 1. When I came, I went for admission, and on September 8 I went through my surgery.

My hand was so bad, but Mercy Ships said that my hand should not be like that forever. Now I give thanks to God and Mercy Ships and also the day-workers.




Abraham now can create art once again.

 

To end the story, I would like to say a proverb: ‘A baby on her mother’s back does not know that the way is long.’ God is so good.

November 2011 Photos by: Debra Bell / Story by Catherine Cooper and Abraham Bangali