CMC nurse returns to NH after serving on floating hospital off Africa
Rebecca Roma calls trip ‘a life-changing experience’
Rebecca Roma calls trip ‘a life-changing experience’
Rebecca Roma calls trip ‘a life-changing experience’
A Catholic Medical Center nurse recently worked aboard a floating hospital off Africa's coast with an all-volunteer medical staff for two months.
It was the journey of a lifetime for Rebecca Roma and the patients she saw aboard the Africa Mercy floating hospital.
“It was a life-changing experience. I think I saw and witnessed what true suffering is and also what true joy is,” Roma said.
Roma brought stories and photos home to her husband Matt, reliving the 2 months she volunteered with medical staff from around the world.
People with no access to healthcare lined up in Cameroon.
“These people have been ostracized throughout their entire lives for the conditions that they have,” Roma said.
Roma’s unit treated facial abnormalities.
“Some patients, it was just one little tear. Other patients, it was shouting for joy and lifting their hands in the air and shouting and praising God,” Roma said.
Roma used vacation days and took a leave of absence from her job to make the trip. She said she could not have made the trip without support from her work, church, family and friends
“Just being able to show people how much God loves them, that this floating ship would come and you know people from all over the world would feel called to go and really give them a chance at new life,” Roma said.
Roma said she would like to return to the Africa Mercy someday and continue her life-changing journey.