Oxford Surgeon Highlights Critical Demand for Life-Altering Operations on Floating Hospital

An Oxford surgeon emphasizes an “enourmous need” for life-changing surgical procedures aboard the world’s largest floating hospital. Rachel Buckingham, a consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals Trust, dedicates the majority of her professional time to this role. However, twice annually, she volunteers with Mercy Ships, offering complimentary surgeries to children who would otherwise lack such medical care. Fudia, a 10-year-old girl from Sierra Leone, represents one of these beneficiaries. Following an operation by Dr Buckingham on her severely bowed legs, she now stands 14cm (5.5in) taller. Mercy Ships, an international charitable organization, arranged the three-hour surgical procedure carried out by Dr Buckingham. She stated: “I will never forget the first time I met Fudia. Every step was an agonising effort. Her legs were so severely twisted that walking was a daily battle.“I’ve met many children who need urgent surgery, but something about Fudia’s quiet courage struck me deeply. “Despite the suffering she’s endured, losing her parents at a very young age, being turned away from hospitals that couldn’t help her, she held on to hope.” Fudia received a diagnosis of Blount’s disease, a medical condition known to induce severe leg deformities in young children and adolescents. This ailment resulted in her legs bowing and her feet rotating inward at 90-degree angles. Joseph, her uncle and guardian, recounted: “We noticed it the very first day she was born, her legs were not normal.” By the age of seven, both of Fudia’s parents had passed away, and her uncle Joseph mentioned that attending school was challenging for her due to being “mocked”. Resolved to secure assistance, Joseph transported his niece to Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, in pursuit of treatment at local medical facilities. They received counsel to await the reappearance of Mercy Ships, prompting Joseph to relocate his family to Freetown, where they spent six years anticipating a ship’s arrival in 2023. Dr Buckingham performed the operation as part of her twice-yearly volunteer work with Mercy Ships, undertaking one rotation on board the Global Mercy and another on the Africa Mercy. She noted that approximately 90% of the surgical procedures they provide occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. The surgeon elaborated: “It’s a fabulous charity, we have people who volunteer from around 60 different countries and we all come together to live and work together and these ships provide surgery for people who would otherwise not have access to safe or affordable surgery.” Dr Buckingham reported that Fudia is “doing great” and can now walk with reduced discomfort. She added: “The smile says it all, she’s doing wonderfully she can now walk more easily and that means she can go to school and look forward to a future with hope.” The Oxford surgeon is making preparations to go back to Sierra Leone for a three-week period in January 2025. She further stated: “The need is enourmous, there are hundreds and hundreds of children just like Fudia who need this life changing surgery.” Readers can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.