Sierra Leona: the story of a tiny half-smile

For: Olga Moya (text and photos)
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Abu is thirteen, the shy smile and eyes that are constantly searching the ground. In Abu dare to look into the world al, probably because you've seen too. Born to a poor family in a small village near Makeni, in Sierra Leone, his life turned one hundred and eighty degrees the day we fell into the river from a bridge which was fishing. And falling, misfortune would have it, the urethra is pierced with a branch.

His life took a 180 degree turn the day he fell into the river from a bridge

Came to Mabesseneh, region in which one of the best hospitals in the country is located, St John of God; hospital that, also, is twinned with its namesake in Barcelona. Just see it, the Barcelona volunteer who treated him recognized the seriousness of the case: "Another child Cuidam", exclaimed. And they began with the preparations to be able to send it to Spain. Abu had to be permanently probed through the hole that had pierced his belly and any infection that was not treated in time could end his life. It was a case likely to be protected by Cuidam, program that is responsible for treating minors with serious pathologies in Barcelona that cannot be treated with the resources of the country of origin, but San Juan de Dios receives so many requests every year that some have to be discarded. Abu waited in the hospital for the verdict. And soon came the good news that I longed for.

On October 2008, Abu landed in Barcelona. He did it together with Ibraim, another Sierra Leonean child who was going to be operated on for a similar ailment - a huge stone had fallen on him crushing his urethra-, and his aunt. Abu was not accompanied by any family member. His mother was sick, he had a younger brother and the father couldn't afford to abandon them to their fate for a few months. But Abu was not alone. Besides Ibraim, of whom he became an inseparable friend, had the support of many of the hospital employees at all times. Marta Nation, representative of the Department of Economy and Finance within the twinning program, remember how they welcomed the little one upon arrival. “We had to show him how to turn the light switch on and off and, especially, insist that he watch with the hot water because it could burn ", explains. From the most basic to the most complex, everything - absolutely everything- was going to change in Abu's life.

Some employees took it home on the weekends

He was admitted to San Juan de Dios for eleven months. The operation was a resounding success but due to the complexity of her ailment, the doctors estimated to leave him in Barcelona for a longer time than usual. Abu's face lights up discreetly when he talks about those days. Remember that I went to the hospital school, that some employees took him home on weekends and that he ate things that had nothing to do with his daily rice diet. "And one day they took me to the Camp Nou", exclaims. It was June 2009 and Barça had just won the league. He was not only a privileged witness of how the team offered the cup to the fans, but also he could be photographed with some of his idols. All a treasure for a child who, under normal conditions, I couldn't even have seen them on TV.

The day finally came for Abu to return to Sierra Leone. Loaded with gifts and souvenirs, He took the plane that was supposed to take him back to his small village with no other future than survival. But a last minute decision was going to change his fate once again. The brothers of the Order of St John of God decided to pay for his studies and take him in, along with other children, in the hospital premises.. Now, Abu goes to school every day, he has a hot plate of food on the table and a room to himself in a sturdy monsoon-proof building. He sees his family during the holidays or when his father can come to Mabesseneh to pay him a visit. And when it does, always carries a goat as a present of gratitude to those who changed the future of his son.

He always carries a goat as a present of thanks to those who changed the future of his son

Today is Sunday and Abu has no class. After taking a walk in which he constantly looks at his shoes and I try to make him smile, He accompanies me to the door of my room in the same rooms of the hospital. I say goodbye to him not without first asking him if he considers himself a happy child. And he responds with "sometimes yes, sometimes not ”which denotes a very mature awareness of their situation. You know how lucky you have been; but also the one that could have.

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Comments (4)

  • Ann

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    Olga, again terrific

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  • Juan Antonio Portillo

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    I have encandilao, Olga!!!!

    For the little that I know you have a heart that does not fit… Your stories give off humanity, radiate positivity, shed light on imaginary darkness… and above all naturalness and spontaneity.

    It has been a great pleasure to wake up and read you having a cup of cocoa.

    Besos

    Answer

  • Lydia

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    It is a very emotional story. Both Abu and Ibraim have been very lucky, but I wonder how many cases of accidents or illnesses will remain unsolved.

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  • Olga Moya

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    Thanks for spending a few minutes to Abu! As Lydia says, there are many others who are not so lucky, even for simple illnesses that could be cured simply by going to the hospital on time. But in Sierra Leone, the majority of the population remembers science only when healers have not been able to alleviate their ailments - but rather make them worse-. When I was there, many were the children who arrived at Mabesseneh on the verge of death after having ingested concoctions of suspicious origin. Someday I will also dedicate a post to them.

    Juan Antonio, beautiful words, as always. I don't know if I'm as good of a person as you think, what if I am is a girl who when traveling stays more with the people she meets on the road than with the sunsets (and see that the latter I love!). Kisses to all three!

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