Mercy's Story

Mercy is an AIDS orphan who lost both her parents to the disease. The morning we met her, her eyes were dull. We were told she had been very unwell and had lost a lot of weight. Then she collapsed. Michelle Hambly, the head of our mobile health clinics in the community, immediately took Mercy to the local hospital.

We will never forget the hot day in August when we received her test results. Mercy started to cry. But they were tears of joy. She gave Michelle a long hug. She tested positive for TB and typhoid, but negative for HIV. Mercy knew all too well what an AIDS diagnosis would have meant for her.

We immediately integrated Mercy into our Adopt a Village program. Typhoid can be prevented by clean water. TB can be treated through health care. HIV can be avoided through education. Mercy was so excited about going to school. She explained that she wanted to be a teacher. "I want to help educate children so they can have a future too," she said.