Freetown, Sierra Leone – When 10-month-old Memunatu arrived at Global Mercy™, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship operated by Mercy Ships, she was fighting for her life. A massive tumor on her neck made it nearly impossible for her to eat, swallow, or breathe. After months of searching for help, her mother, Aminata, finally found hope through volunteer surgeon Dr. Leo Cheng.

Dr. Cheng, a maxillofacial surgeon from the United Kingdom who has served with Mercy Ships for two decades, immediately recognized the urgency of Memunatu’s case. Although the tumor was not cancerous, it posed a life-threatening risk if left untreated.

“Without surgery, her condition would have continued to worsen,” Dr. Cheng explained. “It could have become life-threatening.”

Working with a skilled team aboard Global Mercy, Dr. Cheng performed a complex operation to remove the tumor and restore Memunatu’s ability to breathe and eat. The procedure required extraordinary precision due to her delicate airway and young age.

“With every single millimeter, I was estimating, calculating, and trying to prevent any bleeding,” Dr. Cheng recalled. “It went very slowly, but very positively.”

When the swelling subsided, Memunatu’s transformation was remarkable — her face was free, her smile radiant, and her future bright once again.

Dr. Cheng reflected on the deeper meaning of his work:
“Every surgery like this reminds us that access to safe surgery is not a luxury, but essential. When we restore someone’s face, we restore their humanity, their acceptance, and their hope.”

Globally, an estimated 5 billion people lack access to safe, affordable, and timely surgical care. For families like Memunatu’s, Mercy Ships continues to bridge that gap — delivering hope and healing to those who need it most.