Ebenezer

Ebenezer
One of the first patients admitted for surgery was Ebenezer, a Nigerian gentleman who found us surfing the Internet! He traveled to Guinea, only to discover that the Africa Mercy had already sailed. Disappointed but not daunted, he made it to Brazzaville in the Congo. By now, Ebenezer was broke and did not speak French or the tribal languages of Congo. A fellow Nigerian passenger on his flight paid for his lodging and onward airfare from Brazzaville to Pointe-Noire. Some Mercy Ships crewmembers were at the airport collecting incoming crew and found Ebenezer. Amazing and humbling story.
Ebenezer on his admission day

Getting a scan to see the bone structure of his skull


 Ebenezer went through a a 4-hour surgery to remove the tumor he has carried for 12 years. When asked before the surgery if he felt nervous, he said, "No, I am confident and my heart is strong because of my dream, six years ago I had a dream that I was on a ship filled with people. Now I know this is the ship I dreamed of and I have no worries." Soon after, Dr. Gary Parker came to check on Ebenezer before his surgery. Gary joked, "Many people who travel far to have surgery on the ship have trouble getting back to home because they no longer look like the person in the photo on their passport. I think we're going to have to get you a new passport photo after today!"
Ebenezer after surgery


He stayed at the HOPE Center where Mercy Ships has the capacity to house up to 150 patients and caregivers. Ebenezer had his bandages removed and looked better than ever. He continued to recover at the HOPE Center until his next stage of surgery to graft bone from his hip around his new titanium jaw. 
Ebenezer at the Hope Center

Ebenezer finally went home to Nigeria. We pray for him as he readjusts to life after these intensive months of surgery and recovery on the Africa Mercy. Ebenezer left us with a heart of gratitude and of eagerness to return to his family and friends as a renewed young man. We will miss his beautiful singing and guitar playing that graced the hospital halls.

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