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They pushed my right hand onto the ground. I was shouting and begging them. I watched when they cut it off. I was looking at the stump, watching the way the veins vibrated when the blood flowed out. It was very painful, and I was shouting. When they grabbed my other hand, I blacked out, so I didn't feel them cut it off. After they'd cut off both my hands, I told them, "Kill me, because I am no use in the world!" They told me I was making a noise, and they said it was because I had a mouth to talk with. And they cut off my lips. I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I could feel my lips hanging down.
Later that same day, I walked from my village--about three miles' walk--to one of the peacekeepers' bases. Then they took me to the hospital about three days later. A German Doctors Without Borders doctor did the operation on my arms at Connaught Hospital in Freetown. After the operation, I slept for two days. I couldn't speak because of my mouth--I was just looking around. They were feeding me from a drip. It was a week before I could eat or drink. After three weeks, my wife came to the hospital to find me.
The most difficult things to do now? The most important thing is the toilet affairs. I can't do it for myself, and my wife has to help me. It's embarrassing. Another thing is bathing...eating...writing. I can urinate for myself now with no escort. I can't dress myself. I can't pray because I can't wash. I pray only at night when I'm going to sleep.
I ask for forgiveness when I pray. Then I ask for someone to help me get through my future life... It could be my wife, but without money, she will just sit there beside me. With no money for our children or to assist our parents, she'll just sit there with me. Now I'm waiting to get false hands. It's up to the government. If I don't get them, I can't do anything. If the government forgets about us, we'll take revenge. I can't do it myself, but I would tell my family to take revenge on the person who did this to me. We have no guns, but we have the traditional ways of revenging. I am left-handed, and it will be enough if they can just give me a prosthesis for my left arm.
The International Rescue Committee is working with Sierra Leone's victims. It is accepting contributions at 122 East 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10168