Young Man’s Life Transformed After Mercy Ships Removes Life-Threatening Tumor
A young man from Sierra Leone was forced to drop out of school after being mercilessly ridiculed for having a life-threatening facial tumor, which was successfully removed by international charity Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.org).
Alex, now 23, first noticed swelling in his jaw in 2016 when he was a teenager. Over the years, the tumor grew significantly, causing him difficulty eating, speaking and swallowing. This left him increasingly isolated and raised concerns it would eventually compromise his breathing.
Despite his family’s multiple attempts to seek treatment, including medications, herbal remedies, and unsuccessful surgery at a local hospital, the tumor continued to grow, causing physical and emotional distress.
“It was okay at first, but then the tumor started growing again,” recalls Alex from Freetown. “I feel bad because the surgery was unsuccessful. It damaged my face and took out my teeth.”
“The first surgery gave me some hope, but when it started growing again, I was heartbroken,” shared Alex’s mother, Zainab.
His family’s determination to find a solution never wavered. Alex’s brother Ebenezer turned to politicians and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for help. An NGO offered to assist with the surgery in Ghana, but Alex was unable to travel without a passport. With no clear path forward, the tumor continued to grow, deepening his isolation.
“I was unhappy because my friends were laughing at me. I used to run away from them and sit alone in the room. I found it difficult to sit in a crowd because they used to laugh at me,” Alex said.
The effects of tumors are devastating. It can lead to infections, tooth loss, and even a bad smell, forcing Alex’s family to stop sharing dishes with him. “Alex was always shy about being around other people,” Ebenezer said.
Alex remains hopeful, however, saying: “I believe God will lend a helping hand one day.”
That hope came true when the family learned through a government advertisement that the Mercy Ship would be returning to Sierra Leone in more than a decade. Alex cleared for surgery on hospital ship global compassion™.
Dr Manjit Dhillon, a volunteer maxillofacial surgeon at Aberdeen Hospital in Scotland, performed the complex surgery to remove Alex’s tumor. “Without surgery, Alex’s condition may continue to affect basic functions such as eating, speaking, swallowing, socializing and living normally. It may also affect his breathing,” explains Dr. Dhillon.
The first surgery in October 2023 required the removal of Alex’s entire jaw, and the second surgery used bones from his head to reconstruct it. Looking back on the transformation, Alex said: “I was so happy, especially when people were around me and hugged me.”
This joy lasted until he returned home.
“When I saw him for the first time after the surgery, I cried tears of joy,” Zainab said. “I immediately hugged him and started thanking God for healing my son. The place was packed with people who were surprised and happy for him. They were shouting.”
In April 2024, Alex returned for a second surgery, which was also successful.
With health and confidence restored, Alex shared his favorite post-surgery change: “People were afraid to be near me, but now, everyone wants to be my friend.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships.
For more information about Mercy Ships, please contact:
International: Sophie Barnett
Renren Ship International Public Relations Manager
sophie.barnett@mercyships.org
About Mercy Boat:
Hospital ships operated by Mercy Ships provide free surgeries and other medical services to those without access to safe medical care. Mercy Ships is a faith-based international organization that has been focused on working with African countries for the past three decades. Mercy Ships also works with in-country partners to provide training to local healthcare professionals and support in-country healthcare infrastructure to create a lasting impact.
Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer professionals from more than 60 countries provide services on two of the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ships: African Mercy® and global compassion™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, chefs and engineers invest their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthesia care. Founded in 1978, Mercy Ships has offices in 16 countries and an African service center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, please visit MercyShips.org And follow @MercyShips on social media.
