All his friends and family know 23-year-old Alex as someone you can count on. He’s kind
and considerate, always going above and beyond to take care of his loved ones. This made
it even more devastating for the whole community when Alex began developing a life-
threatening facial tumor.
The young man from Sierra Leone first discovered a swelling on his jaw back in 2016. He
was just a teenager at the time. His family acted quickly, giving him medication and local
herbs in hopes of bringing the swelling down. When nothing changed, they took Alex to a
nearby hospital. Eventually, Alex received surgery – but the tumor returned, more
aggressively than before.
“At first it was okay, but later, the tumor started to grow again. I felt bad because the
surgery was not successful. It damaged my face and removed my teeth,” Alex remembered.
“The first surgery gave me some hope but when it started growing back again, I was sad,”
shared Zainab, Alex’s mother.
His family didn’t give up. They continued to search high and wide for a solution. “I talked to
so many politicians and non-governmental organizations about getting help for Alex,” said
his older brother, Ebenizer. Eventually, an NGO agreed to help Alex get surgery in Ghana,
but without a passport, the trip was impossible.
The family couldn’t see another path forward – so years passed as Alex’s tumor kept
growing.

The Impact of an Untreated Tumor

Alex quickly began experiencing the impacts of his tumor – from the physical challenges it
created, to the crushing isolation he felt.
“I was not happy because my friends were laughing at me. I used to run away from them
and sit alone in the room. I find it difficult to sit among people because they used to laugh
at me,” Alex recounted.
“He was mocked a lot in school, so I had to stop him from going there. I sent him to learn
auto mechanics, and he was also mocked there,” his mother lamented.
The growing tumor caused an infection, resulting in sensitive gums and the loss of several
of Alex’s teeth. This meant eating became increasingly challenging.

“There came a time when the tumor started giving out a bad odor that was disturbing to us
and outsiders. We stopped sharing cup and spoon with him,” Ebenizer shared. “Alex was
always ashamed to be among others.”
Eventually, Alex resorted to spending his days at home instead of engaging in the hobbies
he’d loved: football and dancing.
Despite these challenges, Alex remained persistently hopeful. Although his tumor made it
hard for him to find work, he supported the family however he could. “He is very helpful. If
he receives any money, he gives it to me,” shared Zainab.
“He even became more stubborn,” his brother said, “but he never stopped praying to God
for a solution, because he was not born like that.”

Hope Brings Healing

Alex’s family said he always put them first. Doing everything possible to get him medical
help was one way they could reciprocate his love.
“Alex is one of my best friends; we understand each other so much. That is why, whenever
he faces any challenge, I’m the first person he calls,” shared Ebenizer. “Sometimes he
comes to me and says, ‘it is difficult,’ but I say to him, ‘have patience; it will be fine.’”
With the support of his family, Alex continued holding onto hope: “I was not that worried
because I had faith in God that one day help will come.”
Finally, this hope was realized when Ebenizer heard from a government advertisement that
Mercy Ships was returning to Sierra Leone after more than a decade away. After being seen
by the medical crew on board, Alex was approved for surgery on the Global Mercy.

The Starting Line of a New Life

On board the ship, Alex was eager and full of anticipation for life after surgery. “I want the
doctors to remove it, so I can look normal. I don’t feel good having it in my face,” he shared.
Dr. Manjit Dhillon, a maxillofacial surgeon from the U.K., explained that without the
surgery, Alex’s condition could continue impacting “basic functions like eating, speaking,
swallowing, socializing, and living a normal life. It can also compromise his breathing
resulting to asphyxiation.”
The surgery would be complicated and require removing a significant part of Alex’s jaw.
And this procedure was only the beginning: “After three months, when everything is
healed, Alex will come back for the second stage of his treatment, whereby bone will be
taken from his hip to reconstruct his jaw,” said Dr. Dhillon.

The road ahead looked long – but for Alex, it was the starting line of a new life. At 8 a.m. on
the day of his surgery, Alex was chatting, laughing, and playing board games with a nurse in
the ward. He looked fearless and thrilled to be heading into the operating room. And hours
later, after the successful operation, Alex was finally free.

“I was very happy, especially when people were around me, and when they were hugging
me,” remembered Alex of the first time he saw himself in the mirror without the tumor.
The joy and celebration continued when Alex arrived home for the first time after his
healing was complete. “I shed tears of joy when I first saw him after his surgery. I
immediately hugged him and started thanking God for curing my son from that illness,”
Zainab celebrated. “The place was crowded with people [who were] surprised and happy
for him. They were shouting.”
With his health and strength restored, the future ahead looked bright and brilliant for Alex.
One of his favorite changes was the newfound welcome he experienced in his community:
“People were afraid to be close to me, but now, everybody wants to be my friend.”

Written by: Chijioke Emenike (NGA)
Edited by: Rose Talbot Brumley (GBR)
Photography by: Elizabeth Brumley (USA)