This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On August 13, 2019, a remarkable story of resilience and hope unfolded in Conakry, Guinea. Isatu, a 27-year-old Creole speaker from Sierra Leone, had been living with a massive facial tumour for nearly two decades.
The tumour, an amenoblastoma, had grown to the point where it was pushing her tongue back into her throat, causing her to struggle with breathing. Isatu's appearance had also become a source of distress, with strangers mocking her looks when she took her children to school or went shopping.
Despite her fears and feelings of shame, Isatu sought help and travelled 200 miles to Conakry with her sister-in-law and infant son. There, she met with the patient selection team from Mercy Ships, a hospital ship charity that provides free healthcare services to the poor.
After being approved for surgery, Isatu underwent a series of procedures to remove the tumour, rebuild her jaw, and smooth out her skin. The first operation, which lasted five hours, took place in September and involved the fitting of a titanium jaw. Three months later, she returned to the theatre for a second surgery, where the titanium jaw was replaced with a permanent bone-grafted jaw, taken from her iliac crest.
Finally, in a third and final operation, Isatu underwent plastic surgery to smooth out the excess skin left by the tumour's removal. Throughout her treatment, volunteer nurses from Mercy Ships stayed by her side, providing care and support to Isatu and her family.
When Isatu's family saw her for the first time after her surgery, they were struck by her 'beautiful smile'. For Isatu, the new smile was a symbol of her newfound freedom and confidence. As she looked at her reflection, she felt a sense of awe and hope for a brighter future.
Isatu's story is a testament to the life-changing work of Mercy Ships, which was founded in 1978 and has helped over 2.7 million people in more than 70 countries for free.
