Mercy Ships is an organization that I have been interested in for a long time. I love their philosophy of bringing medical care, free of charge, to under-served people. A floating hospital, fully equipped with the latest of technology, docking in cities and countries that may never have had access to a doctor, dentist, or surgeon. The images of faces distorted by large tumors, or congenital deformities, is shocking to most of us here in the United States. These are things we may never have seen, because with the access to medical care that we have here, these problems would have been addressed long before.
The interventions may be simple or complex, but for many the impact on their life goes way beyond just the medical repair. A lot of these individuals have led lonely lives, being ostracized from their communities because of their physical differences. They look scary. Perhaps they are possessed by a demon. Avoid them at all costs in case you become afflicted as well. The surgery not only improves their health, in some cases saving lives, but restores hope and the promise of a future. Marriage. A family. A part in the community. Mercy Ships is in the business of restoring lives. Such good news!
What is more noble then giving the gift of life? I'm not sure that there is anything. Especially when those people that voluntarily do so do it with the risk of potential complications for themselves.
Sixteen men, women, and youth were given the gift of life by receiving a kidney transplant. The donors? Some were family members, but many were unrelated. Strangers, really. Strangers who understand the sanctity of life, and that they have a gift, a kidney, which will radically impact someone else's life.
