New Horizons for the Farmer Who Wouldn’t Give Up
Farah, a 65-year-old man from a small village called Kenia in Sierra Leone, endured a
painful facial condition for over 15 years.
Years ago, a decaying tooth led Farah to undergo surgery at a local hospital. While the
operation initially seemed successful, it left a persistent sore in his mouth. Seeking
further treatment, he traveled to Guinea to consult a traditional practitioner.
Unfortunately, this only worsened the infection, eventually spreading to his throat and
neck.
Over time, Farah cycled through multiple hospitals, receiving only temporary or
ineffective treatments. His condition steadily deteriorated; fluid drained from his jaw and
face, and he suffered severe pain and discomfort. What began as a minor dental issue
gradually developed into a large mass that affected his neck and jawline, altering the
way he looked and lived his daily life.
Farah lived with this swollen lump for years. After many visits to various clinics, he
ultimately lost the ability to farm—the only livelihood he had to support his growing
family.
“The strength that I once had to do the farming work, I don’t have that strength again,”
he said.
Eventually, he was referred to Mercy Ships, where he underwent surgery to remove the
mass and relieve himself of the pain and physical changes that had affected him for so
long.
The First Step Toward Healing on Mercy Ships
Farah arrived at the Global Mercy™ with high hopes and a resilient spirit. After years of
unsuccessful medical visits, he felt like he had nothing left to lose.
“I said to myself, ‘If I return [home] with this sickness, I will go and die, but if there’s a
hospital [on the Global Mercy], let me go there’,” he explained.
Several medical consultations confirmed that Farah’s condition had grown to
proportions far beyond what a simple medical procedure could repair.
“Farah’s condition is a kind of benign tumor that forms in the jaw or the facial bones,”
explained volunteer maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Georg Eggers, from Germany. “We have
them in Europe and the United States too. Typically, it starts out very small, like the size
of a chickpea, and grows slowly. Back [in the US or Europe], a dentist or a maxillofacial
surgeon can remove it with local anesthesia and be done in 15 minutes.”
“But here [in West Africa],” Dr. Eggers continued, “Even if someone sees it or feels
something’s wrong, there’s often no one available to treat it, or they simply can’t afford
to. And so, in Farah’s case, it kept growing over the course of ten years or more. That’s
what’s heartbreaking because it doesn’t have to be this way.”
Through multiple rounds of screenings and consultations with the volunteer hospital
staff on board, Farah’s charismatic smile beamed through it all. Despite the weight of
his condition, he made friends with other patients and medical staff alike, and
repeatedly remarked how much he loved watching movies on board while he awaited
surgery.
“When I first saw Farah, he had a big smile on his right side of the mandible,” said
volunteer nurse Carol Perdomo from Spain. “He would find nurses to read with and
would call us by our name. He had learned who we are, which is really beautiful.”
A Lifelong Burden Finally Lifted
When the surgery day arrived, Farah remained calm and hopeful. He met the operating
room team during preparation and bravely faced what would be a major procedure.
“Of course, I think he was afraid of the situation, not knowing what will be done to him,
surely realizing that this is major surgery that we had to do on him,” shared Dr. Eggers,
“But he made it easy for me in the interaction because Farah is also a very good
communicator. He sees that we all just want to help him, and he accepts that.”
After surgery, which lasted just a few hours, Farah’s transformation was visible to
everyone, especially Dr. Eggers.
“Farah’s surgery was uneventful. It went very well. No surprises. What was very nice for
us, though, was when we removed his dressings. We gave him a mirror to see himself,
and he was just amazed. He kept looking twice, three times, in the mirror, just to be
sure he was really seeing himself!”
Before Farah’s official discharge, he left the wards, walking down the hallway to music,
applause, and rhythmic stomping. As nurses, doctors, and other patients gathered
behind him to walk him out, Farah threw his hands into the air like an athlete who had
just won a match. His face visibly transformed; he had claimed victory over the tumor
that had affected his life for years.
A Hero’s Welcome
Farah began his journey home after a few weeks of healing on board the Global Mercy.
Visibly transformed, he returned to his sister’s home in Freetown to rest before making
the long, seven-hour journey back home.
On a mild morning just a few kilometers from the ship, the Communications team picked
him up and began the journey to his home village. Farah’s phone kept ringing along the
way, each time a different person—his wife, his child, a neighbor—eager to know when
he’d be home.
When Farah arrived, the village was overjoyed. Introduced by the village chief and other
council members, the town gathered and applauded Farah’s return. Farah eventually
changed into a more regal outfit. He was greeted by elders in his community, all sitting
around him to hear the story of his voyage to Freetown and back.
“I was not expecting to see my father like this because he was very sick. I thought he
was going to die,” said Sunkari , Farah’s daughter. “When I saw him [when he returned],
I was surprised.”
While surgery can be life-changing for patients like Farah, it does not always mean full
recovery in practical terms. Many return home unable to resume their previous work,
relying heavily on family support during recovery. Farah’s wife, Mariama, was
particularly concerned about this.
“I am just worried if he will be able to work again as before,” she said.
In communities with limited resources, this often creates significant financial hardship
and long-term economic strain. However, the free surgeries offered by Mercy Ships help
ease part of that burden, removing the cost of the medical procedure itself, which is one
major obstacle patients no longer must face.
“God answered our prayers, Mercy Ships helped us, and now our hearts are at peace
for now,” Mariama said.
Today, Farah remains hopeful. He sat before his community with arms raised and paid
gratitude for his healthy return.
“I just have to say thank you to Mercy Ships. They have given me peace of mind, and
may God give them the same peace of mind,” he said.
Patients like Farah are just some of the extraordinary people that Mercy Ships
has the privilege of serving. His journey was made possible by the
compassionate work of dedicated volunteers and the generosity of donors and
supporters around the world. You can also help transform lives like Farah’s.