Kodjo sat alone on a bench at the medical screening. His expression was intensely serious. An attractive young husband and father, he had a tumor the size of a grapefruit on his right cheek that curled around behind his ear. It had been growing since he was twelve years old.
Kodjo had been an auto mechanic until the tumor grew so large it got in the way of his work. To provide for his family, he began driving a taxi. Recently, the growth was having a negative effect on that job, too.
He played several sports, and especially enjoyed football (soccer). But the growth of the tumor eventually stopped it all. He even stopped going to church, where he felt very self-conscious. The tumor was taking the joys of his life away.
A Mercy Ships radio announcement provided a ray of hope. The hospital ship Africa Mercy was coming to Togo. “I trusted Mercy Ships could help me,” he said. He had heard about Mercy Ships when the Africa Mercy was in Togo in 2003, but wasn’t in Togo and could not get there before the field service was over.
This time, he made sure he was there. The volunteer doctors performed the surgery to remove the tumor free of charge. Although Kodjo’s total recovery will take a few weeks, he can return to a more normal life now. “ I can go back to being a mechanic. I can go back to church. I’m going to start everything. I can do anything now!” he said with great exhilaration.
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