Reaching New Heights: A Healed Arm and Rekindled Joy
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 specialized surgical care is limited, injuries like these often go untreated. Dr. John de Waal, a volunteer reconstructive plastics surgeon from New Zealand who later operated on Musu, explained that in his home practice, “You don't see the burn contractures because wounds are treated early and they're usually not as severe.” He attributed the contrast to deeper systemic issues: poverty, infrastructure, and lack of trained personnel.
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.”
But after the accident, things changed.
“When I have things to sell and I say, ‘Musu, come and help me’, she was not able to help. She was not able to go far because people were laughing at her, and she was ashamed,” Mamie shared.
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. Going to school and relating to other children became Musu’s biggest challenge.
“She likes to play with her friends. But when she goes close to them, she ends up crying because they laugh at her,” Mamie said. “They call her names ‘Musu one-hand’ or ‘Musu short-hand.’”
Even everyday tasks were tough for Musu. Washing clothes means scrubbing them hard against a custom-made wooden board. Fetching water involves pumping a lever at the borehole and carrying the container home, often on the head.
But because of people like you, Musu’s story didn’t end there...
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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 skeptical 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.”
According to Dr. de Waal, Musu’s future would have been much harder without surgery.
“She would be at a disadvantage to her peers,” he explained. “She wouldn't be able to manage quite the same and would have more challenges. So, life would be more difficult.”
On November 15, 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. Her therapy also incorporated functional activities, cleverly disguised as play.
“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.
“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.”
