Hello, people of the world and thank you for popping over to my page.

Having had an incredible time last year helping those in need in Cameroon (thank you and lots of love to everyone who supported the cause last year!!), I am heading back aboard the big metal floating box. From August 21st- 7th December I will be joining a wonderful team of volunteers to help the people of Guinea.

For those who don't know me, I am Laura a humble little Physio from Scarborough. I have two passions in life (well maybe 4 if you include tea and peanut butter!!) and these are my profession and seeing the world and learning about its cultures.
It had always been my dream to be able to provide Physiotherapy care for those who really need it, of countries who don't normally have access to it. So when The Mercy Ships contacted me,  last year and yet again this year, with this amazing opportunity I grabbed it with both hands, I can do just that, provide life changing therapy to help people who really need it!

Mercy Ships!? What is that?

The Mercy Ships are a team of not only nurses, doctors, surgeons, but also engineers, teachers,admin staff and many others. All being volunteers from 43 nationalities. The ship delivers incredible free life-saving medical care and provide safe, state-of-the-art facilities aboard a  floating hospital. By being a transportable hospital they can travel all over the world to  some of the world’s poorest people. They have helped more than 2.54million people since 1978

What will I be doing?

For 15 weeks I will be aboard joining a crew of 474 (a third of these medical staff) to provide free essential and vital pre and post operative care to the people of Guinea.
Surgery aboard the ship includes burns and facial reconstruction, fistula surgery, begnin growth and cancer removal, cataract surgery, orthopaedic surgery, contracture correction and splinting support of all of the above.
This year, as a Physiotherapist I will be able to provide further care, treatment, rehab plans, plastering, splinting, burns support and exercises to truly change the lives to allow these people to walk again. Even in Western society, Therapists are key post surgery for all walks of life, ages and presentations to  regain/gain full function again. Having access to Therapy is all the more important that these people, who wouldn't normally have access to these services and are enduring major life changing and medically revolutionary surgery!

Okay, so a little perspective here:

As a western person, we often just get up in the morning, out of bed, walk to the kitchen and make a cuppa tea. Super easy right?! 
Wrong..Due to malnutrition, poverty and zero resources there is a huge prevalence of debilitating disorders including untreated clubfoot, rickets, the bends and other congenital issues, many people  of Guinea are unable to do this. Added to this.. Having to cook on open fires with hot, scalding oil- you have sustained hugely debilitating burns that have fused your head to your neck, Or equally the burns have healed so you can no longer move your hands or arms.As a result of this, you are shunned from your community and family leading to shame, further poverty and social isolation. Unfortunately, both of these things are common place in Guinea until now. Until the Mercy Ships come along as provide corrective surgery!!

Having met some incredibly brave and beautiful patients, family members as well as Staff. I feel so blessed and lucky to be able to return to help provide care for those who wouldn't normally have access to adequate after care, support and advice. 



Where does the money go?

As a non profit humanitarian organisation. The Mercy Ships rely on donations and charity support to provide the surgery. For this reason I am  going aboard the ship on a unpaid and purely voluntary basis.
By donating to this cause and page is essentially allowing the ship to have a full time Physiotherapist to provide the above.

Bear in mind that in the UK a standard Private Physio rate is £50per hour. For approximately £20 per day they have a full time physiotherapist to help change lives! 

Any donation however big or small can help make a huge difference.
Thank you so so much!
All of the loves
x.x.x

Psssst..
Please check out my blog from last years service to get a more in depth insight to my experience aboard the ship:

https://blundellsinabilitytoremainintheuk.wordpress.com/

Interested and want to know more?

Please check out https://www.mercyships.org.uk/
Here you can have a glimpse into the amazing charity work, life changing success stories from the patients and the staff and also their aims.


The Mercy ships say:
"A lack of access to safe, affordable surgery kills more people in low-income countries than HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria combined. Globally, there are five billion people who have no access to safe, affordable surgery. Mercy Ships is working hard to plug this gap. The charity operates the largest civilian hospital ship in the world, delivering vital, free healthcare to some of the world’s poorest countries."

Globally, there are five billion people who have no access to safe, affordable surgery when they need it. Mercy Ships is working hard to plug this gap. Since 1978, Mercy Ships has visited more than 70 countries, providing services worth more than £1 billion that have directly helped more than 2.5 million people. Mercy Ships has also trained more than 38,000 local health professionals in order to leave a legacy that lasts. www.mercyships.org.uk