Mouhamed

The village in Senegal that Mouhamed and his family call home isn’t even on the map. To reach it, you must follow a red dirt road for miles, before walking through open grassland. The people of this village help one another — sharing food and stories, as well as each other’s joys and sorrows.

When Mouhamed was 9 years old, a tumor appeared in his mouth. As it grew, Mouhamed seemed to shrink. The tumor disfigured Mouhamed’s face and took away his ability to speak properly, which resulted in him barely speaking at all. Overshadowed by the pain and shame of his affliction, he retreated inward.

Mouhamed’s family searched for two years for a cure, but when a second bump appeared, it seemed like the boy would never heal. To see my child suffering when there was nothing I could do to help him… I was helpless,” Mactar recalled tearfully. “We continued to wait and hope that one day we would be able to find a solution to heal Mouhamed.”

That solution arrived one day when a radio broadcast announced the arrival of the Africa Mercy in Senegal. “When I first heard about Mercy Ships, I felt a new wind of hope,” Mactar said.

Although the trip from their village to the Port of Dakar would be a long one, it would be worth it. After the registration and screening processes, Mouhamed was given a surgery date, turning his hope for healing into a reality.

“I was certainly the happiest father on earth,” Mactar said. “I am an older man, it’s true, but if there were music, I would have danced, I was so happy.”

After his surgery, Mouhamed was a different boy. As he recovered, his spirit began to blossom.  More than physical healing — it was a complete transformation of his spirit. The tumor that had been holding him back was gone, and he was finally set free. Free to be a carefree 11-year-old boy and receive love and return it.

Before the operation, Mouhamed struggled to make eye contact and only replied with nods. After the surgery, Mouhamed’s cheerful voice could be heard ringing throughout the ward when he greeted a familiar face. He made eye contact, but even more than that, he was unafraid to express his affection.

“I hope that those who have never known Mouhamed will never know that something was ever wrong with him,” his father said.