MARY SEACOLE

"The grateful words and smiles, which rewarded me for binding up a wound was a pleasure worth risking life for at any time."

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Mary’s mother had learned the ancient art of using herbs to make medicines, thus curing many in Kingston, Jamaica, where they lived. By 12, Mary was already helping her mother cure people! Growing up, Mary travelled a lot, which was unusual for women at the time. She went to the Bahamas, Haiti and Cuba to find out more on usage of herbs as a medicine. In Panama, she even risked her life to help local nurses and doctors cure patients during a cholera epidemic. During the Crimean War, she travelled to London to offer her assistance to the Britain Army on the battlefront. The Army was immediately suspicious of a woman practicing medicine. But, Mary Seacole was determined. So, she went to Crimea herself and opened a place of treatment where wounded soldiers could heal and recover their strength before making their long journey home. Mary traveled right to the frontlines to bring medicines and food to soldiers. She treated all wounded soldiers as equal human beings: she didn’t care about their uniform, and treated soldiers from both sides – often with bullets firing, and cannons thundering all around. Her bravery and determination, like many selfless nurses and doctors working to cure patients is commendable.