Shead graduate and family to serve on hospital ship in Africa

A Shead High School graduate and former Eastport resident is returning to take part in a humanitarian mission in Africa, this time as captain of a hospital ship that delivers free surgeries and other healthcare services. Matthew Bakis will be joined by his family, who now live in Cape Elizabeth, during the year-long trip as he commands the 498-foot Africa Mercy.

Of the decision to take part in the mission with his family, Bakis says, "One of the things I'm looking forward to is being part of a community where people from all over the world have chosen to use their skills and talents to help others. Whether they're surgeons, teachers, engineers, cooks, deck officers or nurses, everyone is contributing in their own way. I think there's something powerful about our kids seeing that firsthand."

After graduating from Shead in 1997, Bakis went to Maine Maritime Academy and has since been a merchant mariner for over 20 years. Last year he took part in a three-week field service tour in Sierra Leone aboard the Global Mercy, during which he shadowed the ship's captain so he could return to be the master of one of the hospital ships operated by the international charity, Mercy Ships.

After the family joins the ship at the end of July, the Africa Mercy will be off the island of Madagascar through December. From there, the ship will head to South Africa for about six weeks of maintenance and then go around the Cape of Good Hope to Togo in West Africa to begin the next field service.

Bakis will be overseeing all vessel operations and ensuring the ship can safely support the hospital staff as they carry out their lifesaving work. He observes that while the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals are often the most visible part of Mercy Ships' mission, their work is supported by the efforts of hundreds of volunteers working behind the scenes. He notes, "With accommodations for up to 470 crew members, this will be a lot different than the containerships I usually work on with 24 crew members."

His wife, Julie, is working toward a biotechnology degree and has been building a small business over the last few years but will be stepping away for a year. Aboard ship, she will find a volunteer role "that fits her strengths and background and continue some of her research while we're away," Bakis says.

Their children -- Teddy, age 12, Genevieve, 10, and Isabelle, 9 -- are "excited. Living on a ship and attending school on board are probably at the top of their list right now. They've also become pretty interested in Madagascar. We've heard there's a lemur park about an hour from where we'll be docked in Toamasina, and they've already decided that's a place they want to visit," their father says.

Bakis notes, "The hardest part for them, all of us, might actually be leaving Scout, our dog. There have already been several discussions about whether we can somehow smuggle him onto the ship. Since that doesn't seem likely, there have been requests to bring stuffed animals that look like him instead. Fortunately, he'll be staying with family and will still get to enjoy swimming and running around Boyden Lake this summer."

The family also has been talking about having to miss Eastport's Fourth of July next summer. "We've spent every summer at Boyden Lake since the kids were born, and 2027 will be the first year we won't be there. We will all miss seeing family and friends, the fireworks, the Navy ship, all the activities around town and, of course, the blueberry pie‑eating contest. We've joked that maybe we'll have to recreate a little Eastport Fourth of July celebration somewhere aboard the ship. Luckily we will be able to enjoy the Fourth right before we fly out July 12 and plan to make the most of it."

As for why they're undertaking this adventure now in their lives, Bakis says, "The kids are at a good age, and I feel like I've reached a point in my career where I have the experience to help support a ship like the Africa Mercy and the mission it's carrying out. Most importantly, we have the opportunity to do this together as a family. That doesn't come along very often, and it was a big part of our decision."

Providing a lasting impact

Mercy Ships provides free surgeries for people who often have little or no access to surgical care. That includes head and neck surgeries, ophthalmic surgeries including cataracts, tumors, orthopedic conditions, burn injuries and other treatable conditions. They also have a dental program. According to the organization, throughout sub-Saharan Africa at least 90% of the people lack access to surgical care.

"One thing I found interesting is that the surgery itself is really only part of the process," says Bakis, noting that a great deal of care is provided after surgery. Many patients need physical therapy and rehabilitation to get the full benefit of their procedure. For example, a child born with a club foot may receive surgery to correct it but then spend time working with therapists to learn how to walk properly and build strength. "Seeing those kinds of transformations is one of the things we're looking forward to witnessing firsthand," he says. "They even have a place on board where we can visit patients, play games with them, just visit and learn more about their life and challenges. Communication can sometimes be hard, we have heard, but the kids are looking forward to visiting, and so are Julie and I."

"Seeing the work done on board by the medical staff is amazing. They also have an Education, Training and Advocacy program for medical professionals in the host country. This helps to create a lasting impact even after the ship leaves," says Bakis. "Top surgeons and nurses from around the world are not only conducting surgeries, they are also training the local population of doctors and nurses to care for their own people after the ship departs."

Bakis says that at this point the Ebola outbreak is not of significant concern for the journey. "Mercy Ships keeps a close eye on public health situations, but its focus is really on providing surgical care and medical training in places where those resources are limited. They've been operating in Africa for many years and have experience adjusting plans when needed. Right now we feel comfortable moving forward with the information available to us."

Reflections on serving others

Of what the experience will mean for him and his family, Bakis observes, "The kids are excited about the adventure right now, but I think some of the biggest lessons will come from simply living somewhere different for a year. It's one thing to read about another country or culture and another thing entirely to be immersed in it every day."

He continues, "One of the reasons we decided to do this as a family is because some lessons are easier to show than explain. We can talk to our children about helping others, faith, generosity and stepping outside their comfort zone, but seeing people from all over the world volunteer their time and talents to serve others is a different kind of lesson."

He notes that he has learned that when you step outside of your comfort zone to help someone else, "the person giving often gets just as much out of the experience as the person receiving. That lesson was reinforced throughout my life. As a kid, I watched family volunteer their time in their communities, whether it was through food pantries, Habitat for Humanity or other local organizations. Eastport is also full of people who quietly give back without looking for recognition. Growing up around people like that had a lasting impact on me."

Mercy Ships is a faith‑based organization, which is part of the reason the family was attracted to serve others with them. However, Bakis notes that service does not have to mean traveling halfway around the world. "Sometimes it's helping a neighbor, volunteering in your community, coaching a team, serving on a local board or simply showing up when someone needs a hand. Mercy Ships happens to be one way of doing that, but the idea is much bigger than any one organization. I think there will always be a need for people who are willing to use their time, talents and experience to help others."

Reflecting on growing up in the island city, Bakis comments, "I've been thinking a lot lately about how much Eastport influenced who I became. I wasn't born there, but the community had a huge impact on me. I learned a lot about service from people here. I think about my time at Shead and government class with Mr. G, and projects like delivering food baskets. I think about my mom and stepfather helping establish the local food pantry. I think about Captain [Bob] Peacock taking a chance on a high school kid and bringing him out on the pilot boat. Looking back, those experiences helped shape the path that eventually led me here."

"So many people have quietly helped make this possible," says Bakis. "We're going to miss a lot over the next year, but we're excited for the adventure ahead and grateful for all the encouragement we've received from family, friends and our communities."