What's Zup?: Mohamed's Story

Dr. Mark Shrime, a Mercy Ships volunteer surgeon, was recently serving onboard the Africa Mercy hospital ship in Guinea. One of Dr. Mark’s patients, Mohamed, had such a large growth on his neck that, at first glance, it seemed like a goiter. To determine the exact nature of Mohamed’s condition and to plan treatment, Dr. Mark used the diagnostic information provided by a computerized tomography (CT) scan.

Mohamed had fallen into deep despair. He explains, “As my condition worsened, the growth increased to such a size that I had difficulty eating and sleeping. My voice also became hoarse. My wife worried constantly that this condition would cause me to die.”

Another of Mohamed’s fears had already come to pass, causing the family extreme hardship. He recounts, “The lump on my neck started growing when I was in my mid-twenties. I had worked very hard to complete University studies in law, planning to have a good career in the justice department of the Guinean government. But when I could no longer hide the growth, my career stopped. I had the education and trust needed to take on significant roles, even as a Minister, but my appearance prevented any chance of promotion.” Mohamed was transferred to a local police detachment, with no contact other than the criminals he interviewed.

When Dr. Mark received the results of Mohamed’s CT scan, he was taken aback. According to Dr. Mark, “As it turned out, Mohamed’s problem was not a goiter but a cyst. The condition begins even before birth, when the thyroid gland descends from the base of the tongue through a canal called the thyroglossal duct to the neck. Usually the duct disappears after the gland descends, but sometimes small pockets, called cysts, remain. For Mohamed, and others with this condition, fluid collects in the duct cyst. The result is a visible lump.”

Dr. Mark had never seen a cyst as large as Mohamed’s, noting that, “This condition is normal, but the growth generally remains golf ball size. Where there is access to surgery, the cysts are usually removed once they become noticeable. But for Mohamed, whose cyst was untreated for almost thirty years, it grew to an enormous size.”

Mohamed learned through bitter experience that he had no access to the treatment he needed. “I spent almost $10,000 (enough to put ten children through University) in Guinea, and other nearby countries, looking for a cure. My family and I did without many things. When I found out that I could get surgery in France, I even entered a competition to be sent to police training school there.” While Mohamed obtained the top score on the selection test, another person was awarded the scholarship to travel to France. After years of unfair treatment in the workplace and ridicule from his colleagues, this final injustice crushed Mohamed’s remaining morale. He left his job, shuttering himself inside his home.

Unemployed and feeling hopeless, Mohamed began a personal prayer vigil. Daily at 2:00 a.m., often with his wife at his side, he prayed for healing and to have his livelihood and life back.

Mohamed believes that God answered his prayer by bringing Mercy Ships to Guinea. He recalls his remarkable experience as a patient. “Mercy Ships saved me and renewed my life. While I was waiting to hear about my surgery date, a Mercy Ships day-worker who I met at the screening continued to check on me and assured me that I would be called. All of the volunteers for Mercy Ships were so helpful and kind. When I had my first test, the nurse was careful and made sure I was comfortable. After my surgery, I had some unexpected bleeding in the middle of the night. Within minutes, I was immediately surrounded by nurses and taken to the operating room where many doctors were waiting to fix the problem. I was back in bed sleeping within an hour!” (technically this is true as the bleeding was fixed quickly in theatre but we actually ventilated him on ICU for the next few hours and woke him up in the morning !)

Following his successful surgery, Mohamed returned home a renewed man. He was so impressed by the quality of care he received from Mercy Ships that he wrote a personal account of his entire experience to share with his friends and family. The part that still surprises him is what he learned about Mercy Ships volunteers: “They actually pay to come here so that people they don’t even know can be healed. Who else but God sends people like that?”

Written by Joanne Thibault

Edited by Nancy Predaina

Photographs by Debra Bell, Michelle Murrey, Bright Effowe