Isatu

When she was 10 years old, Isatu’s jaw began swelling, causing her to lose several teeth. Despite efforts to reduce the swelling, a large tumor continued to grow for nearly 17 years, dominating her face and her life.  “I cover my face because when people see me they talk. They make fun of me," Isatu said. "I’m ashamed. They make me cry.” While the mockery Isatu faced was greatly disheartening, the tumor was slowly becoming more than just a social stigma. It was life-threatening.

“[Tumors like Isatu’s] are usually benign,” Dr. Gary Parker, the head maxillofacial surgeon onboard the Africa Mercy said. “They’re not cancerous, but you can die [from suffocation].”  Faced with the fear that the tumor could eventually take her life, Isatu searched for a solution. One day, Isatu heard about a hospital ship offering surgeries in Conakry, Guinea and made the journey from Sierra Leone with her sister-in-law and infant son in search of healing.

Isatu was assessed and approved for surgery onboard the Africa Mercy. Due to the size and placement of the tumor, Isatu would undergo a series of surgeries that would remove the tumor, rebuild her jaw and smooth out her skin.  Several days after her first surgery, Isatu’s nurse began to change the bandage. It was a slow, gentle process until the nurse handed Isatu a mirror.  As Isatu looked at her new reflection, her expression was one of awe — it was as if she could see into a whole new future!

And despite the swelling from the surgery, her smile shone through. “To see someone who walked in timid and afraid, and now is fully herself, is like seeing a new person be born,” the volunteer nurse who worked with Isatu, said.  Today, Isatu is able to confidently walk the streets of her neighborhood knowing that her beauty shows both inside and out — and her smile continues to shine for all to see.