She had been living with a growing facial tumor for eight years. 

Fatou grew up in Senegal and lived with a tumor on her face since she was a young girl.  

Though it is rare, sometimes we have repeat patients on board our hospital ship. 

It always warms our hearts to see how hope and healing impact people on and off our ships. 

We love to share stories of transformation, but often hope and healing extends well past the patients and into the lives of their families as well.  

A grandmother sat on a bench in the Africa Mercy's hospital ward. 

The professional medical volunteers on board our hospital ships, the Global Mercy and the Africa Mercy, perform thousands of free surgeries every year. 

Hope and healing have come to Freetown, Sierra Leone as the Global Mercy has arrived and patients have started to come on board just this week! 

Sira was a playful 4-year-old filled with vibrant life.

Fatamata was filled with hope when her children were born. But both times, nearly nine years apart, that hope faded into fear.