TOAMASINA, MADAGASCAR APRIL 2, 2025: A nine-year-old girl can now reach for the stars after life-changing surgery from international charity Mercy Ships restored movement to her arms, years after severe burns at age two left them fused in place.

Toamasina, MADAGASCAR, February 12, 2025 – With a strong focus on human capital development, the Ministry of Public Health, in partnership with the international humanitarian organization Mercy Ships, announced the arrival of the hospital ship Africa Mercy® in Toamasina today. This return marks a significant step in improving access to quality surgical care for the Malagasy population.

It’s been almost two decades since Merryl Mackenzie, now 65 years old, began her journey with Mercy Ships. In 2007, Merryl left her home in Australia and came to Ghana, West Africa – arriving on New Year’s Eve to serve as an operating room nurse on the Anastasis, just before it was retired. She worked alongside volunteer surgeon, Dr. Gary Parker, doing maxillofacial surgeries. Having taken a temporary leave of absence from the hospital where she worked, the mother of three stayed aboard the ship for three weeks in pursuit of a childhood dream.