Escort mission to Morocco, 17 March 2008

Annie Brand, one of two escort supervisors, tells the story:-

Mounia is a 20 year old young lady who came to UK 9 years ago, through the Chain of Hope organization, to undergo heart surgery. This was successful but she had to return this year from her home in Rabat, Morocco, for further treatment.

She was due to enter the Harley clinic on Tuesday 18th March for surgery on Wednesday 19th March and the flight from Casablanca to London was duly organised for Monday 17th March. I was informed that her family had kindly invited me to stay with them instead of putting up at a hotel and I had no objections, understanding their desire to get acquainted with the stranger who would accompany their daughter to UK.

I was met at Casablanca airport by Mounia's father and her uncle and we were soon on our way to Rabat where Mounia, her father and mother, were staying with the uncle and his family. Neither Mounia nor her father or mother spoke English or French but the uncle and his wife were fluent in French.

They had prepared a feast and had also invited Fadela, the doctor's secretary at the cardiology Clinic where Mounia was being treated. It was extremely pleasant, everyone was in a good mood and Mounia was very cheerful. It was obvious from the moment I met her and her parents that they were extremely devoted to her and she was the "apple of their eyes", quite understandable as she is the "baby" of the family and of course had had ill health and was still facing surgery.

There was a bit of weeping on Mounia and her mother's part when we finally retired for the night - presumably at the idea of the ordeal awaiting Mounia - and this did not seem unnatural to me.

We were met at Heathrow by Margot from Chain of Hope, accompanied by Vikki who could interpret for Mounia, and by Julie, Mounia's host mother for one night. Mounia was a bit disappointed not to be staying with the host parents from her first visit (with whom she had had an excellent relationship I am told) but it did not seem to worry her unduly.

As far as I was concerned the return journey would be some weeks away as I was informed that an adult had a longer stay than a child after surgery. I was allowed to visit Mounia at the clinic a few days after her surgery. She looked fine and Pippa, her devoted host mother, was with her.

I was extremely surprised when I was contacted on Thursday 27th March and asked if I could be available to accompany Mounia back to Morocco on the following day, if she received the go ahead from Professor Yacoub. I confirmed that this would be possible and met her at Heathrow on Friday 28th March. She seemed rather wan, was not in a happy frame of mind and, unfortunately, did not feel well enough to travel that day. She was however successfully escorted home on the next day, Saturday and was relieved to arrive back in home.

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