Samuel Sesay
Samuel was born with a large fibrous growth covering his eye and the left side of his face. As he grew, the inflated skin formed a large pouch over his eye. The weight of the growth pulled his nose and the left side of his mouth down, extending below his chin.
Shortly after his birth, both of Samuel’s parents were murdered by rebels during the civil war in Sierra Leone. His great-uncle became his caretaker for his first five years. When he could no longer care for Samuel, the boy’s Uncle Alan took him into his home as part of his family, treating him like a son.
A very intelligent and personable ten-year-old, Samuel loves to play all kinds of games and especially enjoys playing football (soccer). An excellent student, his school experience has not been very positive. His classmates shunned him because they thought he had a demon they might “catch.”
Uncle Alan told Samuel that a Mercy Ship was coming to Sierra Leone. Hopefully, the volunteer surgeons would be able to make his face a little more normal. “Samuel was very excited when I told him that his face might not be 100%, but at least he could have a seat at the table,” said Alan.
Alan brought Samuel for a screening, and soon both of them were settling down in a hospital ward. The volunteer surgeons removed much of the fibrous growth, reducing the boy’s face to a more normal size.
While recovering in the ward, Samuel made friends quickly with other young patients. It was a time of renewal for Samuel, as his companions and the crew members looked past his outward appearance to appreciate the vibrant, fun-loving person within.
Samuel was released from Mercy Ships care but returned a few weeks later for additional surgery to realign his features. He was very pleased with the result.
“I’m telling God, ‘Thank you.’ The way I looked before isn’t what I look like anymore,” said Samuel. “I’m the happiest kid around!”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell and David Peterson
Samuel was born with a large fibrous growth covering his eye and the left side of his face. As he grew, the inflated skin formed a large pouch over his eye. The weight of the growth pulled his nose and the left side of his mouth down, extending below his chin.
Shortly after his birth, both of Samuel’s parents were murdered by rebels during the civil war in Sierra Leone. His great-uncle became his caretaker for his first five years. When he could no longer care for Samuel, the boy’s Uncle Alan took him into his home as part of his family, treating him like a son.
A very intelligent and personable ten-year-old, Samuel loves to play all kinds of games and especially enjoys playing football (soccer). An excellent student, his school experience has not been very positive. His classmates shunned him because they thought he had a demon they might “catch.”
Uncle Alan told Samuel that a Mercy Ship was coming to Sierra Leone. Hopefully, the volunteer surgeons would be able to make his face a little more normal. “Samuel was very excited when I told him that his face might not be 100%, but at least he could have a seat at the table,” said Alan.
Alan brought Samuel for a screening, and soon both of them were settling down in a hospital ward. The volunteer surgeons removed much of the fibrous growth, reducing the boy’s face to a more normal size.
While recovering in the ward, Samuel made friends quickly with other young patients. It was a time of renewal for Samuel, as his companions and the crew members looked past his outward appearance to appreciate the vibrant, fun-loving person within.
Samuel was released from Mercy Ships care but returned a few weeks later for additional surgery to realign his features. He was very pleased with the result.
“I’m telling God, ‘Thank you.’ The way I looked before isn’t what I look like anymore,” said Samuel. “I’m the happiest kid around!”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell and David Peterson
Samuel before surgery.
Samuel after surgery.
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