(Note from Krissy: Roger was one of the Guinea patients I interacted with and translated for quite a bit while he was on board - he had such a great sense of humor and was SO happy once his tumor was removed! Here's his story... Love it!)
For at least ten years, Roger suffered with an ever-expanding growth on his chin. His remarkable sense of humor helped him to keep some friends, but most people didn’t want anything to do with him. He attended school until level three. By that time, the tumor got too big to ignore, and the verbal abuse from classmates was too hurtful.
He couldn’t get work because most people were afraid of him. His parents are both dead, and he lives with an uncle. He would like to be a carpenter – but, without any training, he continues to fish for a living with his brother and sells his catches in a nearby village.
He heard about missionaries Jonathan and Anja Erickson in N’Zao, Guinea, on the radio, and he made his way to their clinic. Jonathan has brought many patients to Mercy Ships in the past, and this year he drove thirteen patients, including Roger, the 1200 kilometers to Freetown, Sierra Leone, for surgery.
Mercy Ships volunteer surgeons removed the enormous tumor that was threatening to suffocate Roger. Because of the many years he suffered with it, his lower lip had been extremely stretched. Speech therapist Sally Peet worked with him extensively, demonstrating exercises that would reduce his lips to their original size. Several hours a day, he wore a compression cap to encourage the shrinkage.
It took many weeks to recover from the life-changing surgery. Roger spent those hours resting, watching television, and playing checkers. (He’s an extremely skilled checker player.) But he kept his sense of humor. “Even in recovery, he smiles at me,” said Jonathan.
After several weeks, Roger went back to Guinea with Jonathan, promising to return in September for a jaw replacement. When his brother, Nema, saw him, he exclaimed, “That’s NOT Roger!” Because of the huge tumor, he had never seen what his brother really looked like.
Roger did return to have his jaw (which was removed in the first surgery) replaced with a titanium one. Recovering in the ward, his playful personality and sense of humor returned, along with the twinkle in his eye. He is looking forward to returning home, where he plans to pursue training as a mechanic – “something new and different to do with my hands,” he said.
Roger is very grateful for Mercy Ships and Jonathan Erickson, whose combined efforts have given him a new life.
“I was well treated, and I’m thankful to God and to all workers on the ship,” he said.
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Liz Cantu and Tom Bradley
Roger smiles after his surgery.
Roger before surgery.
Speech therapist Sally Peet works with Roger on exercises to reduce the swelling in his lips and mouth.
Roger covered his tumor in shame before his surgery.
For at least ten years, Roger suffered with an ever-expanding growth on his chin. His remarkable sense of humor helped him to keep some friends, but most people didn’t want anything to do with him. He attended school until level three. By that time, the tumor got too big to ignore, and the verbal abuse from classmates was too hurtful.
He couldn’t get work because most people were afraid of him. His parents are both dead, and he lives with an uncle. He would like to be a carpenter – but, without any training, he continues to fish for a living with his brother and sells his catches in a nearby village.
He heard about missionaries Jonathan and Anja Erickson in N’Zao, Guinea, on the radio, and he made his way to their clinic. Jonathan has brought many patients to Mercy Ships in the past, and this year he drove thirteen patients, including Roger, the 1200 kilometers to Freetown, Sierra Leone, for surgery.
Mercy Ships volunteer surgeons removed the enormous tumor that was threatening to suffocate Roger. Because of the many years he suffered with it, his lower lip had been extremely stretched. Speech therapist Sally Peet worked with him extensively, demonstrating exercises that would reduce his lips to their original size. Several hours a day, he wore a compression cap to encourage the shrinkage.
It took many weeks to recover from the life-changing surgery. Roger spent those hours resting, watching television, and playing checkers. (He’s an extremely skilled checker player.) But he kept his sense of humor. “Even in recovery, he smiles at me,” said Jonathan.
After several weeks, Roger went back to Guinea with Jonathan, promising to return in September for a jaw replacement. When his brother, Nema, saw him, he exclaimed, “That’s NOT Roger!” Because of the huge tumor, he had never seen what his brother really looked like.
Roger did return to have his jaw (which was removed in the first surgery) replaced with a titanium one. Recovering in the ward, his playful personality and sense of humor returned, along with the twinkle in his eye. He is looking forward to returning home, where he plans to pursue training as a mechanic – “something new and different to do with my hands,” he said.
Roger is very grateful for Mercy Ships and Jonathan Erickson, whose combined efforts have given him a new life.
“I was well treated, and I’m thankful to God and to all workers on the ship,” he said.
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Liz Cantu and Tom Bradley
Roger smiles after his surgery.
Roger before surgery.
Speech therapist Sally Peet works with Roger on exercises to reduce the swelling in his lips and mouth.
Roger covered his tumor in shame before his surgery.
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