After undergoing life-altering surgery, a toddler who was unable to bend her arms because of burn scars may now finally embrace her parents. Unable to receive the necessary burn treatments, Gamai grew up with tight hands and arms as her scarred skin constricted after she unintentionally dragged a pot of boiling water over herself when she was just a year old. People made fun of her appearance, and her extremely restricted movement prevented her from writing, dancing, or giving her family a complete embrace.

(Source: Google Images)
 

The AfterMath ~ 

However, Confort, Gamai's mother, learned that a hospital ship was being sent to Guinea by the humanitarian charity Mercy Ships. Confort left with the four-year-old, who was chosen for surgery, and they went home after weeks of recuperation on the ship. Volunteer doctors and surgeons on board frequently assist people with injuries like Gamai's. 

Gamai is now well and able to play, write, and dance. She can also embrace her parents for the first time in her life. "We took her to our neighborhood hospital, but all they gave us was hand ointment," Confort recalled. “They said there was no cure for it.” Tens of thousands of children in sub-Saharan Africa die from burns every year, yet an estimated 93% of the population still does not have access to safe surgery. Every year, Mercy Ships performs hundreds of transformative reconstructive plastic surgery for burn patients like Gamai, who endure years of easily treatable illnesses.

(Source: Google Images) 

After learning that Africa Mercy, a charity shop with five operating rooms, 80 ward beds, and an intensive care unit, had arrived in Guinea, Gamai's family felt a great sense of hope.  Weeks after her rehabilitation, Gamai was released from the hospital, and she jumped with delight as she saw her neighbors and family waiting for her outside.  After years of not being able to, she was finally able to embrace her parents with her newly extended arms. Her father, Lamine, remarked, "She is so active today because she can move like she couldn't before."