I would like to share a personal story of one of the patients we have had the privilege of helping.
A Message of Faith
Before & After
Ashamed, hurt & embarrassed, Peace Mensah suffered for years with a huge tumour sprouting out of her mouth. The fear of not knowing why the tumour began or how large it would grow, combined with the intense pain would have shattered most people's faith in a loving God. But for Peace it was her faith that carried her through.
"I want to tell my testimony to everyone of what God has done for me" Peace says as she begins her remarkable story of faith. As she perches on the side of her bed in the Mercy Ships recovery ward, Peace holds a mirror in one hand. She can't stop looking at her face, the transformation is amazing. A smile gradually grows wider and wider until a gasp of laughter comes rushing out. Over and over she repeats to herself "Thank you God! Praise you God!"
In 1998 Peace first felt the beginnings of discomfort in her mouth. Four years later the swelling had grown considerably and the pain was intense. Blood and puss constantly oozed out of the mass that swelled out of her mouth. A local hospital had diagnosed the facial tumour but there was little that could be done to help. Knowing there was little hope, Peace gave her condition up to God and prayed that He would keep her faith strong. She knew that people suffered hard times but wanted to constantly praise and trust in God.
Life grew tougher and tougher for the Mensah family. Running a small farm and trading vegetables and cassava kept them economically stable but as Peace's tumour grew, work for her became impossible. Her husband was forced to take over the running of the entire family. Unable to sleep due to the intense pain and only able to drink liquids through a straw, Peace gradually grew more and more weak. "I used to cry out and prayed for God to hear," she says while looking at her new reflection, "and God heard my cry."
In June 2006, a Doctor from Peace's village came to the family with the exciting news that a floating hospital ship was coming to Ghana. "He told me to pray." Peace remembers, "and I did. I never stopped praying!"
Along with thousands of others, Peace travelled to the Port city of Tema to attend the Mercy Ships Medical screening in late June 2006 ....as witnessed by Brenda. She stood for hours in a line, a line that would lead to a new face and a new life. Waiting in the lines were so many broken, desperate people, but Peace was different, she was sure that this was God's answer to her prayers. Her faith was in Him alone. Amazed and overjoyed, Peace left the screening site with a Mercy Ship surgical appointment card. The floating hospital was the answer to endless prayers; Surgeons assured her they could remove the tumour and restore her face. The 27th June, 2006 marked the start of the transformation process for Peace. She endured two surgeries over three months, spending 27 days in the Ship's recovery ward. At times she recalls that it was humiliating, "I had lost so much weight and was so light that I couldn't really walk. I had to be bathed and I always wet the bed. But the result was incredible and the nurses were amazing. Mercy Ships has done a big job."
"God has blessed me so much," Peace murmured over and over again. Throughout the whole 8 years, her husband loyally stayed by her side, looking after the whole family and reminding her that he loved her for who she was, not what she looked like. BUT she knows God loves her even more from this. "God is an amazing God, He is always by our side." After her final surgery Peace remained another 15 days aboard the Anastasis. "She was a delight to look after", one ward nurse commented. Ecstatic about her transformation and excited about returning home to her village, Peace talked about how the family would celebrate in style. She knew that it was her faith in God that had kept her going through all the emotional turmoil of the last 8 years and to Him she gave the Glory.
Written by Lu Mizen (Mercy Ships Communications Dept).
Brenda had the privilege of spending time with Peace on several occasions down on the ward and they sang some songs together. She was a remarkable lady with a beautiful smile.
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