Story by Lucy Pieterse
A young man from Sierra Leone who was forced to leave school because of a life-threatening facial tumor has had it successfully removed by international charity, Mercy Ships.
Scottish Surgeon, Manjit Dhillon, a Consultant Surgeon in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, was one of two surgeons to perform the first complex three-hour surgery on board the world’s largest floating hospital, the Global Mercy in Sierra Leone.
“Without surgery, Alex’s tumor would have continued to affect basic functions like eating, speaking, swallowing, socializing, and living a normal life,” explains Manjit. “It could also have compromised his breathing.”
Alex, now 23, first noticed a swelling on his jaw as a teenager. Over the years, the tumor grew significantly, making it difficult for him to eat, speak, and swallow. It left him increasingly isolated and raised fears that it could eventually impair his breathing.
Yet Alex held onto hope, saying: “I had faith in God that one day help would come.”
That hope was realized when the family learned through a government advertisement that Mercy Ships was returning to Sierra Leone after more than a decade. Alex was approved for surgery on board the hospital ship, the Global Mercy.
The first surgery in October 2023 required removing a significant part of Alex’s jaw. In April 2024, Alex returned for his second surgery to reconstruct his jaw using bone from his hip, which was also a success.
“This was life-saving surgery for Alex,” explains Manjit, who has performed almost 100 operations for patients on board Mercy Ships. “It was amazing to be part of his journey and see him embracing a future of hope. He had been so isolated and shunned from society. It was incredible to watch Alex come alive and be part of his community again.”
Reflecting on the transformation, Alex said: “I was very happy, especially when people were around me and when they were hugging me.”
The joy extended to his return home.
“I shed tears of joy when I first saw him after his surgery,” said his mother, Zainab. “I immediately hugged him and started thanking God for curing my son. The place was crowded with people who were surprised and happy for him.”
With his health and confidence restored, Alex shared his favorite post-surgery change: “People were afraid to be close to me, but now, everybody wants to be my friend.”
Source; https://www.msn.com/en-gb/public-safety-and-emergencies/general/young-man-s-life-transformed-after-scottish-surgeon-removes-life-threatening-tumour-on-board-mercy-ships/ar-BB1rrgQw?ocid=BingNewsVerp