Volunteer nurse Ali Chandra recently wrote this blog entry about one of her favorite patient stories

David Wilkerson is well-known for his gripping books and movie versions like The Cross and the Switchblade and for the drug rehabilitation work of Teen Challenge.

Mercy Ships needs crew members with many skillsets.  Canadian Luke Taje serves in security and the deck department onboard our hospital ship. Listen as he describes an unforgettable encounter with one of the patients

There are many beautiful women in Africa who feel ugly and isolated because they suffer from obstetric fistula.  This childbirth injury is caused by lack of medical care during protracted or obstructed labor.  The results are heart-breaking.  It’s a double tragedy … it results in a stillborn baby and incontinence.

Roger Andersen was taking his two children and another boy on a ski trip.  A vehicle ahead slid out of control.  As Roger tapped his brake, his sedan slid out of control and down an embankment into an icy river. 

Recently, a volunteer nurse described the view from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit onboard our hospital ship

Electrical power died when Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast.  Nurses at the neonatal intensive care unit in Lower Manhattan didn’t wait for the back-up generator.  They went into their own emergency mode.

Bethany, the Mercy Ships Eye Team Coordinator, befriended a patient named Josue.  Everyone fell in love with this lively little boy with the huge smile.

Our hospital ship serves countries with little or no healthcare.  So, huge crowds show up for the medical screenings.  Luke Taje is a Canadian who volunteers as a security officer.  It’s his job to maintain order. 

Ashley England took her family to a pizza place for dinner.  Her eight-year-old son Riley has special needs.  For several weeks, he’d been difficult during public outings.