Bibiane’s Message Of Hope
She’d given birth to nine children, but four had died at a very early age. And her husband passed
away not long ago. Still, Bibiane found the strength to keep going, the will to survive.
She’d created a small business for herself – selling a type of corn dough known as “gui.” She didn’t
seem to mind the three-day process of soaking, grinding, pounding and cooking the corn mixture to
create this widely-used staple for Beninese cooking. “I like serving it with fish and onions,” she says,
with a sense of warm familiarity.
But when Bibiane started having serious stomach pains, she was forced to go to the local hospital
where they performed surgery. “I’m not sure what they did, but something went wrong … and ever
since then, urine has been leaking out.” The surgery had caused a hole, called an obstetric fistula,
that allowed urine to leak uncontrollably from Bibiane’s body.
From that moment, her life changed drastically. “I couldn’t cook or sell any more.
I couldn’t do anything.” Her daily habits and routines stopped, as did her income.
“I was stuck in the house.” Fortunately, she had support from her grown children
with whom she stayed.
The Africa Mercy was docked far from where Bibiane was living. However, teams had been sent to
remote areas of the country to find people who were in need of surgical intervention … people like
Bibiane. Upon hearing the news of their arrival, Bibiane’s brother urged her to try Mercy Ships. She
did, and visited with the nurses to explain her problem. They took her information and told her
they’d contact her soon.
And they did. “My phone rang, and the voice on the other end told me the ship had accepted my case
to work on me!” Bibiane remembers.
Just a few days later, Bibiane traveled to the ship for a few more exams and then, finally, surgery.
Despite her experiences with hospitals, she wasn’t nervous or fearful. “I know it will work – I don’t even
think about it anymore!” she said confidently.
The surgery was a success, and Bibiane’s leaking stopped. During a special Dress Ceremony in front
of a group of fellow patients and Mercy Ships crew, she shared her success story with pride. “I had this
sickness for five years … but, today, it is finished! Now, when I wake up, I find myself dry.
I'm fine – I have no problem now!”
To women suffering from similar conditions, Bibiane has a message: “All I can tell them is
to not get discouraged. God's time is right, and I believe they will also one day get healed just as I did.”
Story by Windsor Marchesi
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Justine Forrest
BEE170326_BIBIANE_PAT09259_ADMISSION_JF0003
A surgical procedure at a local hospital caused something to go terribly wrong … Bibiane hopes
that surgery on the Africa Mercy will make it right.
BEE170327_BIBIANE_PAT09259_WARD_JF0001
Bibiane had lost so much – loved ones, freedom, independence. Free, safe surgery was an answer
to prayer.
BEE170409_DRESS_CEREMONY_BIBIANE_PAT09259_JF0011
Bibiane warmly shares her testimony of healing at a celebration ceremony.
BEE170409_DRESS_CEREMONY_BIBIANE_PAT09259_JF0003
Bibiane has a message for other women suffering from obstetric fistula: “All I can tell them is to not
get discouraged. God's time is right, and I believe they will also one day get healed just as I did.”
Story and photos used with permission from Mercy Ships.
She’d given birth to nine children, but four had died at a very early age. And her husband passed
away not long ago. Still, Bibiane found the strength to keep going, the will to survive.
away not long ago. Still, Bibiane found the strength to keep going, the will to survive.
She’d created a small business for herself – selling a type of corn dough known as “gui.” She didn’t
seem to mind the three-day process of soaking, grinding, pounding and cooking the corn mixture to
create this widely-used staple for Beninese cooking. “I like serving it with fish and onions,” she says,
with a sense of warm familiarity.
seem to mind the three-day process of soaking, grinding, pounding and cooking the corn mixture to
create this widely-used staple for Beninese cooking. “I like serving it with fish and onions,” she says,
with a sense of warm familiarity.
But when Bibiane started having serious stomach pains, she was forced to go to the local hospital
where they performed surgery. “I’m not sure what they did, but something went wrong … and ever
since then, urine has been leaking out.” The surgery had caused a hole, called an obstetric fistula,
that allowed urine to leak uncontrollably from Bibiane’s body.
where they performed surgery. “I’m not sure what they did, but something went wrong … and ever
since then, urine has been leaking out.” The surgery had caused a hole, called an obstetric fistula,
that allowed urine to leak uncontrollably from Bibiane’s body.
From that moment, her life changed drastically. “I couldn’t cook or sell any more.
I couldn’t do anything.” Her daily habits and routines stopped, as did her income.
“I was stuck in the house.” Fortunately, she had support from her grown children
with whom she stayed.
I couldn’t do anything.” Her daily habits and routines stopped, as did her income.
“I was stuck in the house.” Fortunately, she had support from her grown children
with whom she stayed.
The Africa Mercy was docked far from where Bibiane was living. However, teams had been sent to
remote areas of the country to find people who were in need of surgical intervention … people like
Bibiane. Upon hearing the news of their arrival, Bibiane’s brother urged her to try Mercy Ships. She
did, and visited with the nurses to explain her problem. They took her information and told her
they’d contact her soon.
remote areas of the country to find people who were in need of surgical intervention … people like
Bibiane. Upon hearing the news of their arrival, Bibiane’s brother urged her to try Mercy Ships. She
did, and visited with the nurses to explain her problem. They took her information and told her
they’d contact her soon.
And they did. “My phone rang, and the voice on the other end told me the ship had accepted my case
to work on me!” Bibiane remembers.
to work on me!” Bibiane remembers.
Just a few days later, Bibiane traveled to the ship for a few more exams and then, finally, surgery.
Despite her experiences with hospitals, she wasn’t nervous or fearful. “I know it will work – I don’t even
think about it anymore!” she said confidently.
Despite her experiences with hospitals, she wasn’t nervous or fearful. “I know it will work – I don’t even
think about it anymore!” she said confidently.
The surgery was a success, and Bibiane’s leaking stopped. During a special Dress Ceremony in front
of a group of fellow patients and Mercy Ships crew, she shared her success story with pride. “I had this
sickness for five years … but, today, it is finished! Now, when I wake up, I find myself dry.
I'm fine – I have no problem now!”
of a group of fellow patients and Mercy Ships crew, she shared her success story with pride. “I had this
sickness for five years … but, today, it is finished! Now, when I wake up, I find myself dry.
I'm fine – I have no problem now!”
To women suffering from similar conditions, Bibiane has a message: “All I can tell them is
to not get discouraged. God's time is right, and I believe they will also one day get healed just as I did.”
to not get discouraged. God's time is right, and I believe they will also one day get healed just as I did.”
Story by Windsor Marchesi
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Justine Forrest
BEE170326_BIBIANE_PAT09259_ADMISSION_JF0003
A surgical procedure at a local hospital caused something to go terribly wrong … Bibiane hopes
that surgery on the Africa Mercy will make it right.
that surgery on the Africa Mercy will make it right.
BEE170327_BIBIANE_PAT09259_WARD_JF0001
Bibiane had lost so much – loved ones, freedom, independence. Free, safe surgery was an answer
to prayer.
to prayer.
BEE170409_DRESS_CEREMONY_BIBIANE_PAT09259_JF0011
Bibiane warmly shares her testimony of healing at a celebration ceremony.
BEE170409_DRESS_CEREMONY_BIBIANE_PAT09259_JF0003
Bibiane has a message for other women suffering from obstetric fistula: “All I can tell them is to not
get discouraged. God's time is right, and I believe they will also one day get healed just as I did.”
get discouraged. God's time is right, and I believe they will also one day get healed just as I did.”
Story and photos used with permission from Mercy Ships.
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