You gave Daouda a second chance at life

For years, Daouda hid at home, leaving only when seeking treatment with his father. He even stopped going to school in 2019 although he was a top student with a bright future ahead of him.

As Hamady was running out of options, he heard that the Africa Mercy hospital ship would be offering free surgeries in Senegal. He knew that bringing his son to the ship would be a challenge, particularly as it meant leaving during the rainy season, a crucial time for his farm.

However, encouraged by pictures of successful surgeries on Mercy Ships’ Facebook page, Hamady dropped everything and brought Daouda to our hospital ship.

Receiving the long-awaited surgery

People in their village ridiculed Hamady for his repeated failure to get treatment for his son. Even before leaving for Mercy Ships, some people told him, “Don’t go. Nobody can cure this. They won’t be able to cure this either.”

But Hamady did not listen to them. He persisted in hoping that his son somehow would be healed.

And, thanks to his persistence and the generosity of supporters like you, Daouda received free, lifechanging surgery onboard our hospital ship.

Between the tumour removal, grafts, and facial reconstruction, our hospital ship director Keren Fuhrmeister anticipated a “long and complicated surgery,” but Daouda emerged from the operating room in “half the time expected and miraculously didn’t need extensive facial reconstruction.”

Although Hamady was finally eating and sleeping well again, he still feared the worst for his son. So, when one of the nurses said to him, “Come see your child.” Hamady asked in disbelief, “Is it over for him? Can he speak? He has a mouth?”

Dr Keren, who saw the reunion between father and son, said: “He sat by his son and held his hand. Waiting for Daouda to wake up, Hamady just sat there with pure relief. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on Hamady’s face.”

A second chance at life for Daouda

Before leaving the ship Daouda thanked our volunteer doctors and nurses who operated on him. He told them that he was now looking forward to going back to school.

The road to healing was a winding one for Daouda. But now, thanks to your kindness, the determination of his father and the expertise of our volunteers, Daouda can step into a better future.

This is what Dr Mark Shrime, the International Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Ships who operated on Daouda, said: “Every hospital told Hamady they couldn’t do this operation. They told him to go to Morocco or Mali or to Guinea-Bissau. He spent 4 million CFA [$6500 USD] just to be told ‘no’ dozens and dozens of times.”

But, thanks to the medical technologies available in our floating hospitals, the expertise of our volunteers and the generous hearts of friends like you – more patients like Daouda who are told ‘no’ many times can now have a second chance at life. n

Give more patients like Daouda a second chance at life today by donating at: mercyships.org.uk/hope

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