Little Mansare lives in a hidden neighborhood in the port city of Conakry, Guinea, where he loves to play with his group of older brothers. But despite her active and fun-loving personality, the four-year-old Mansare’s childhood has always been a bit different from others due to her bowed legs.
Mansare’s condition has always made it difficult for him to keep up with the other children, be it running, climbing trees or playing soccer.
A four-year-old should be too young to feel self-conscious and embarrassed, but the comments and looks Mansare received while in town made him feel different from everyone else.
He was running and his laugh brought a smile to his mother’s face.
“Look. Watch him walk, ”said his mother, Simone. “Now he can play. Before, he would get tired and come back after ten minutes because the other children laughed at him. Now, I have to go find him at the end of the day and bring him back home because he is so happy to be playing.
Seeing an energetic child running and playing may not be surprising to many, but it is something the Mansare family has always looked forward to.
Mansare grew up with a condition known as “bowlegs,” an ailment often caused by an underlying disease, such as rickets, and exacerbated by malnutrition. The four-year-old has only known life with his orthopedic condition, which has made walking and running a grueling challenge.
After years of watching the little boy struggle with his limited mobility, Mansare’s family was excited to hear the news that he could finally find sanity. Simone took her son to the Naves de Esperanza patient selection day, where approximately 6,000 more people had gathered in hopes of being cared for by volunteer nurses.
From outside the gate of the compound, Simone saw a large crowd and did not know if they would be able to pass. However, Mansarr, brave despite his young age, slipped through the door and entered the compound. He greeted her from the other side, saying, “If you can’t pass, I’ll go and line up!”
Once inside, Simone found Mansare lining up alone, unafraid, motioning for him to join her place. “He has always been brave,” she said.
The day he walked up the gangway of the Africa Mercy hospital ship for surgery, Mansare’s smile said it all. He wasn’t nervous about the surgery, he was excited to go on another adventure!
Once inside, Simone found Mansare lining up alone, unafraid, motioning for him to join her place. “He has always been brave,” she said.
This bravery continued during Mansare’s time with Ships of Hope. After being operated on, Mansare spent weeks recovering and relearning how to walk. Even sitting in casts for several weeks, he couldn’t help but smile, and after starting the physical therapy program, Mansare began to be functional again.
“He loves his new body,” said his mother. But Mansare’s change goes much deeper than appearances. Now, it is a challenge to keep him still, and his confidence and joy show in everything he does. Mansare looks like a new kid, inside and out.
“Surgery has changed our lives,” Simone said. “He is happier; I am happier. He loves himself more. Now he has more confidence.
Mansare had many weeks of rehab sessions with the help of volunteer physical therapists.
Now he can play. Before, he would get tired and come back after ten minutes because the other children laughed at him. Now, I have to go pick him up at the end of the day and bring him back home because he’s so happy to be playing, ”said Mansare’s mother, Simone.