“Did you swallow a tennis ball?” the kids in the neighborhood asked David. But he didn’t respond.
“I don't know why … I just didn't want to insult back,” he explained, with a gentle smile that seemed to lie subtly behind every expression – even when recalling hard times.
And it hadn’t been easy. At the age of five, a small mass began growing and hurting. His parents tried various treatments, but, because money was scarce, they had very few options, none of which worked. By the time David was 10, his tumor had dramatically increased, driving the family to the local hospital for help. It was there that the hard news set in. "After we paid $50.000 CFA (around $85 USD) for the analysis, the doctors told us surgery would cost $300,000 CFA (around $508 USD).” There was no moving forward. “As his parents, we did everything we could, but we had no money to pay for him to have surgery,” they explained.
And so, David adjusted over the next two years. He tried to avoid some of the shame of the public eye, which saddened Diane, his mother. “He couldn't go out with me like his brothers … he spent most of his time at home,” she said.
But then Diane heard about Mercy Ships. "On the ship's arrival day, I was near the sea and saw the ship entering the port." From there, she set out on a mission to get help for her son. Along with thousands of others also in need of surgery, Diane and David waited in long lines for a chance to be seen by someone from Mercy Ships. Returning every day for six days, even sleeping outside in the rain at times, their persistence paid off, and David was approved for free surgery onboard the Africa Mercy!
Little did David know of the transformation that was in store as he boarded the ship. He was joined by his mom, who stayed by his side until it was time for the doctors to operate. A few hours – and many prayers – later, the mass had been removed, and he was recovering well. Soon after, David’s bandages were changed by caring nurses, who handed him a mirror. For the first time in eight years, David got to see his boyish face without the tennis ball … and was amazed: "When I looked in the mirror, I saw that I was more handsome!" he exclaimed.
In-between visits to the ship for check-ups, David put together drawings of his time spent onboard and explained the penciled self-portraits. "I drew me before and after I had the surgery. I am now a handsome boy," he said once again, even more confidently this time.
David returned home for good, quite different than when he left. But what did those neighborhood kids make of his transformation? Diane witnessed their reaction. “I had been waiting for this day for so long, and now it has happened. When we came back home, our neighbors saw him and they were all excited. They hugged him and were overjoyed to see him without the tumor. Now that they see his happiness, they will want to find out more. They must know that in this life God will someday provide the helping hand,” she said.
David was excited to be back at home with his family. His brothers and sister were eager to hear more. “Where is the tumor that you had on your neck?” they asked.
And he had the perfect answer, “It’s gone.”
Story by Windsor Marchesi
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Justine Forrest & Miguel Ottaviano
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Twelve-year-old David spent eight years carrying this mass, unable to get treatment because his family couldn’t afford surgery. He endured hurtful comments like, “Did you swallow a tennis ball?”
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David’s mom loves her son dearly. She heard Mercy Ships had arrived in Benin and brought her son to see if help was possible. They waited in line for six days, hoping and praying for a chance for free surgery.
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Dr. Gary Parker, volunteer surgeon onboard the Africa Mercy, checks in on David after surgery – and finds him recovering quite well!
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David’s bandages were removed – and for the first time in eight years, he got to see his face – without the tumor! He said, “I am handsome now!”
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David is the best big brother!
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The ability to be “care-free” – some take it for granted, others don’t have a chance to know it at all. David’s tumor is gone – and it’s a freeing experience.
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An amazing transformation!
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