Moussa’s village seems like it’s on the edge of the world. To reach
the nearest large town requires passing through dry underbrush on foot
or by motorcycle, crossing a river by canoe, and driving for hours down
winding dirt roads.
When his condition first began as the result of an untreated dental
complication, Moussa realised that it wasn’t going to go away on its
own. He felt helpless. With surgical care costing far more than the rice
farmer could afford, he could only use traditional medicine — and pray.
But, when Moussa heard over the radio that Mercy Ships would be
hosting a patient selection screening the next day, he immediately left
his village and travelled through the night for a chance to be seen by
the medical team.
The fifty-five-year-old had lived with the fear for six years. He was
terrified the tumour in his mouth wouldn’t stop growing, and he was
prepared to journey any distance to be free from it. As the growth
developed, Moussa found it increasingly hard to eat, speak, and work. He
stopped labouring in the rice fields, leaving his nephew to take the
mantle as the provider of the family. Over time, Moussa — once a proud
and enigmatic leader in his village — began to feel ashamed of how he
looked. He covered his face with a shawl to hid the tumour and kept his
eyes downcast. He stopped sharing meals with his family, instead
choosing to eat in a separate room so no one would see him struggle to
eat.
For Moussa, hours of travel and standing in line were nothing
compared to the hope that he might have a chance for a brighter future.
When he was told he was eligible to receive surgery, even the daylong
bus ride to the port city where the Africa Mercy was docked couldn’t
keep Moussa’s joy at bay.
After arriving onboard, Moussa’s tumour was removed and he spent the
next several weeks being cared for by nurses as he recovered – from his
surgical wound and his emotional scars. During his time onboard the
Africa Mercy, he was welcomed into a community and loved by strangers,
causing him to slowly step beyond the emotional walls he’d built around
himself.
As he began to come out of his shell, his true self emerged. Moussa
returned to his village once again confident and proud to see his
community. He was celebrated by a crowd reverberating with dancing,
singing, and laughter.
‘I feel like a president,’ Moussa said as he shook hands with everyone in sight.
Being welcomed back into his community and once again sharing a meal
with his family, Moussa feels his life has changed in more ways than
one.
“I would surely have died if not for this surgery,” he said. “I’m very grateful!”
