How great is our God

Sometimes it just feels like surgery goes on around us daily, sometimes I am struck at how once horrifying cases can become a normal sight in the ward- at times I sense a desensitization as I go about my work- as the cases I share below which would arouse horror in the setting of home become standard in my week here. Don't get me wrong at many times tears well- and need to be supressed til later when I am off the job. Immence joy flows to as you see a patients recovery. I said it when I came back from Benin- I was shocked to find that aid agencies and missionaries really didn't show the worst photo's to grab your attention- rather they showed the everyday. Well i'd like to share some of the everyday here with you. Some of the photo's will grieve you but my hope is that rather you can rejoice in what a great God we have that gives people amazing hearts to help others and skills to perform life changing surgery.

Before and After surgery- This little guy below should have his casts off soon. Can you imagine how life changing his surgery will be- Praise God for our amazing ortho surgeons. This is the boy I referred to some weeks back who essentially had his legs on backwards- in my not so medical terms :).



Remember Lawson - How amazing is his face! Now that the swelling has gone it is even more remarkable than the earlier photo's I blogged about.





The tumor destroyed his life, separating him from everyone and everything he loved. The people in his village would not sell him food because they said he was a devil. His wife left him, leaving behind their three children. Without work or food, he could not provide for his family.

So, Lawson, once one of Ghana's most prominent football (soccer) players, now hid inside his house.

Lawson was literally at the brink of death as the tumor slowly suffocated him. He was immediately admitted to the hospital ship, with surgery the next day. It took three doctors eight hours to remove the benign growth and repair his nose, upper lip, and cheek. The large amount of blood required during surgery was donated by crew members.

Lawson was overjoyed when he touched the bandages on his cheek ? the tumor was gone! There will be more surgeries within the next year to complete the reconstruction of his face, but the immediate result saved and restored his life.


Above: Ama before surgery shortly after surgery with several weeks of recovery to go.For three years, a tumor had been relentlessly growing and devastating her life.Her husband abandoned her and her ten-year-old daughter. Like so many patients the physical healing is only the start-only God can heal the emotional pain and needs.




Kossin arrived at my first day of screening. Sixteen-year-old, Kossin Delou, spent four years of his life sheltered by his family and kept out of the public eye due to an enormous tumor that dominated the left side of his face. When the tumor first appeared, Kossin visited local hospitals in Lomé, Togo. But his family could not afford the necessary surgery.

Kossin's recovery time


It truelly is remarkable how little scarring is left- notice the but lines follow the facial lines and the scars sit somewhat hidden in the creases of the face- under Kossin's eye and along the side of his nose and lip.

Kossin with his proud father 3 weeks post op.