A South African plastic and reconstructive surgeon’s world is turned upside down after a ‘once-off’ volunteer trip on a hospital ship in West Africa.

Nine years later, having closed his private practice, we follow him and four of his Beninese patients while the hospital ship is docked in Benin.

Hyacinth is a lively and mischievous ten year old boy from a remote Voodoo village. At 9 months old he crawled over a leaf concealed pile of hot ash which resulted in a severe burn contracture. Though his leg became permanently fused in a folded position he uses a small crutch to play soccer and climb trees.

Fadila, a quiet eleven year old Muslim girl who was born with defects in an eyelid and her nose. She she suffers the ridicule of children at school.

Ambroise, a 31 year old motorcycle taxi driver, was born with a tiny bump that has spread and disfigured his entire arm. It not only is a cause of great shame to him but it causes him severe pain that prevents him from being able to provide for his family.

On hearing of the ship’s arrival all four patients attend the screening day to seek a free surgery. Thousands are lined up and it is clear that not all can be helped in the 9 months the ship will be in Benin. Dr Tertius Venter is one of the 450 crew members on the Mercy Ship, the Africa Mercy, who is paying to volunteer in order to provide free specialised surgery to the poorest of the poor.

We follow each patients journey, in their own words (Fon with subtitles) from home, their actual surgeries, their recovery and their lives 4 months after surgery.

Meanwhile, Dr Tertius Venter, driven by his faith, is struggling with the a part of his calling – to be away from his wife for 9 months of each year. We explore this dynamic with them at their home in Cape Town, South Africa.

Dr Tertius finances his volunteer work with short trips to Dublin, Ireland to perform elective cosmetic surgery. Here, we follow a young man having rhinoplasty and unknowingly helping West Africans who suffer similar social ridicule in a completely different social context.

Mercy Ships www.mercyships.org