A toddler born with a rare growth on his head causing 24/7 pain has undergone a “last chance” life-changing surgery.
Little Emmanuel, three, was born with a condition which led to a large mass developing on the side of his head as he grew.
The tot’s family, from northern Sierra Leone, saw it grow bigger and bigger until his face became distorted.
He was also left in agony 24/7 – but doctors were unable to treat the growth, beyond offering him pain medication.
His parents, Manteneh and Yirah, would be asked about their son’s unusual condition daily and Yirah had to stop working to care for his son, leaving them struggling financially.
But after the family heard of international hospital charity Mercy Ships, which had their ship Global Mercy docked on the coast of Freetown, Sierra Leone, they sought help.
Emmanuel was diagnosed with lymphangioma – an abnormality of the lymphatic system that occurs during pregnancy – often not apparent until after the child is born.
After preliminary visits, Emmanuel went under the knife in April 2024 to remove the growth and was able to go home several days later.
Yirah said: “I was so worried for him. After they took him away for surgery, I couldn’t eat any food.
“When he came home from surgery, it was like we had just given birth to Emmanuel.
“The entire community was very happy for my son’s surgery. People around us were saying that Emmanuel is a newborn baby!”
Manteneh explained that shortly after her son was born, she noticed a white-coloured swelling around his ear.
Unsure of what to do, she compressed the area with warm water, but things began to worsen.
Manteneh said: “We went to so many local hospitals and clinics, but they sent us home.”
In the UK, Emmanuel’s treatment would have been available on the NHS, however in Sierra Leone, due to high unemployment rates and high inflation, families often cannot afford basic medical care.
Emmanuel’s lesion on the side of his face expanded until it was a large lump, causing him pain.
Though uncommon and noncancerous, the lump had the potential to cause facial nerve damage and distort the shape of his face.
Manteneh said: “Sometimes I got ashamed when people saw him and asked, ‘is that a boil? What’s the problem? Why is his jaw like this?’. I did get embarrassed.”
The family heard a public service announcement that Global Mercy was coming to Sierra Leone and moved to Freetown in June 2023 to start treament.
Manteneh said: “I didn’t know if it would work, but this was our last chance.”
Emmanuel’s doctors on the Global Mercy planned to remove the growth with maxillofacial surgery, requiring at least two preliminary visits for injections to harden the tissue, making it safer to remove.
After several visits, Emmanuel was ready for surgery and the big day was April 9.
Luckily the surgery was a success – and Emmanuel was discharged a few days later and made new friends to play football with.
Since surgery Emmanuel has healed and lives a pain-free life – unrecognisable from his former self.
Mollie Felder, a volunteer maxillofacial nurse on the Global Mercy, said: “If the mass continued to grow, it could have pressed on more of the surrounding areas, potentially causing problems such as facial nerve compression, which would affect the way he is able to move his face, and even cause facial disfigurement.
“It caused caused emotional strain on his mother, as well as the child, in part due to stigma and discrimination surrounding such visible differences and lack of knowledge as to the cause of these anomalies.
“If he continued to experience social isolation due to his condition, it could affect his development given his young age.”
Another volunteer surgeon, maxillofacial head and neck surgeon Leo Cheng, said: “I’m addicted to the indescribable joy and smiles of patients and parents after their transformative surgery on board.
“And I will keep volunteering for as long as I am able.”
