From Patient to Aspiring Doctor: Inspiring Journey From Aboard

Quick Smiles:

• A young man named Romino, who received life-altering leg surgery on the charity hospital ship, Africa Mercy, as a child, revisits the ship years later with aspirations of becoming a doctor.
• With healthy, straight legs due to the early intervention, Romino is an energetic boy who often outpaces his friends in races.
• Mercy Ships, established by Don and Deyon Stephens, has visited over 55 developing nations providing free healthcare, and in turn, empowering individuals like Romino.

Romino, a boy from Madagascar, once faced difficulties in walking due to his bowed legs, a condition that started early in his life. Local medical professionals suggested leg massages for the condition, but they proved ineffective.

In search of a solution, his mother Claudia discovered hope in a charity hospital ship, the Africa Mercy. Romino, only three years old at the time, received life-changing surgery aboard the ship in 2015.

The talented doctors on the Africa Mercy successfully performed surgery on Romino, enabling him to grow up running, walking, and participating in games like football with his peers.

Fast forward to the present, the Africa Mercy returned to Madagascar. In a touching reunion, Romino came aboard again.

“Now I want to provide the same healing that I received,” the now 12-year-old shared, conveying his ambition to become a doctor, inspired by the Mercy Ships surgeons who changed his destiny.

Romino’s mother, Claudia, first observed the abnormal development of her son’s legs when he was about two-and-a-half years old. The condition became more noticeable as he commenced walking.

When she heard Mercy Ships would be providing free surgical care for children in their country, she was overjoyed. After Romino’s successful surgery and recovery, he grew up with strong and straight legs.

“People are amazed when they see him because they never believed he would look like this,” Claudia said with pride.

Today, Romino, also lovingly known as Tilos, is a prominent figure among his friends, often winning running races. His transformation leaves many in disbelief asking, “Is this really Tilos?”

Romino barely remembers his first journey aboard the Africa Mercy, or the kind-hearted people who aided him back to health. Nonetheless, the experience has made a significant impression on him, igniting his ambition to help others.

“I’m so ecstatic,” Romino expressed with joy. “I never thought I would see the ship again.”

Mercy Ships has served in Madagascar four times, including earlier visits in 1996, 2015, and 2016.

The organization has cooperated with the Madagascar Ministry of Health during these missions, facilitating over 6,425 transformative surgical procedures, more than 52,395 dental procedures, and training local healthcare personnel with new techniques.

Mercy Ships is a humanitarian organization launched by Don and Deyon Stephens in 1978, aiming to “bring hope and healing to the forgotten poor.” Operating a two-ship fleet, the Global Mercy and the Africa Mercy, they have made a difference in more than 55 developing nations, focusing mainly on Africa.

The organization has treated 2.87 million patients free of charge, performing more than 117,000 surgeries and half a million dental procedures.

But perhaps their greatest legacy is inspiring youngsters like Romino, who now dreams of becoming doctors.

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