Saturday, April 13, 2013

Rescued From Death


Warning…The Story that follows includes graphic pictures of conditions most would never see because the disfigured, are hidden away. Even though at Mercy Ships we often see children and adults with scarves over their necks and facial areas which are covering tumors - forgive me Lord, I have not realized the extent of the suffering of so many...

Sory, a frightened, cowering seventeen-year-old boy with a large benign facial tumor, waited for what no one had ever thought was possible...a surgery that would remove the growth. Sory shrouded himself completely, leaving only a small gap for one eye to continually survey his surroundings. Sory, is one of a number of children in W. Africa who suffer from horribly large & life-threatening facial tumors. There are no surgeons in the area with training/experience to remove these; that is why Mercy Ships is so important to so many.

                                                                                                                                 
Before Sory’s tumor started growing from his cheekbone, he and his farming family lived a happy, simple life. Sory’s worked on his family’s farm and began caring for the oxen when he was nine years old. Sory had a special gift with the oxen and his mom, Saran was proud of her son; thinking he was becoming a fine young man.

When Sory complained about a lump that was growing, Saran was immediately worried. “Sory was always such a happy and healthy boy. I knew that something must be very wrong for him to say something.” Over the next two years, Sory experienced regular dizzy spells, but no pain, as the tumor continued to push its way forward. He could no longer hide the now gaping distortion in his face. Saran’s eyes fill with deep sorrow as she recounts how her son’s once promising life crumbled. “I learned quickly how cruel people can be. No one in our small village ever had a condition like this before, so they believed that Sory was cursed. People were so frightened of Sory that they would yell and throw sticks at him. Saran and her husband Balla made a painful decision to keep Sory hidden at home or on the farm field. Saran recalls how her heart shattered as she saw the deep confusion and agony in her son’s eyes. “The more he was consumed by pain and fear, the more love I needed to pour into him,” she explained. As Sory’s tumor had grown and ballooned its way out of his mouth, his mother had drawn closer to her son.
If he was to live a nightmare, then she would live that nightmare too.
While Saran prayed continually for her son, she started to feel her own crushing despair. Sory’s struggles with eating and his difficulty breathing were all signs that more growth in his tumor would surely bring an end to his life. Saran never let Sory see her sorrow or fear. Instead, as Sory recalls, “My mother gave me hope. I cried so many times because I could not attend celebrations or play outside, and she would always comfort me. We would pray together, and she would tell me over and over how there would be healing for me.”

Sory believes his mother’s steadfast love, support and encouragement bought him the precious time he needed until the healing they prayed for arrived. Saran recalls that day with great emotion. “The tumor had taken over Sory’s entire life. He could only swallow a little meat broth, and he was desperately weak. He lost all consciousness of the world around him. Then, when I felt he was close to his last breath, my husband’s brother called and said, ‘bring Sory to Conakry right away. There is a ship here that does operations.’ Within two weeks Sory was admitted into the Mercy Ships hospital.”

During the hours that Sory was in surgery, Saran found herself seized by a flood of memories. She explains, “I recalled every moment of pain Sory had suffered – especially the rejection, the insults and the whispers that it would be better if he died. And now, my boy was being healed. God heard our prayers, and He gave Sory his life back.” According to Sory, God heard the infinite faithfulness of his mother. “God knows my mother never gave up on me, when no one else would eat with me, she ate with me.


    
Following two months of recovery, there are only a minders of the voracious tumor that threatened to consume Sory’s young life. While his nose is a bit askew, every day his facial features take on more of their original contours. Sory’s most important thoughts these days center on  returning to the farm and the future he wants to fill with friends, a wife and some grandchildren for his mother. Saran hugged Sory, murmuring softly, “Thank you, God, for the miracle of my son’s continuing life!”
                                 
Floating on Mercy, 

Harry and Pam

tentmakersonthego@hotmail.com
1-954-538-6110 ext 4319

mailing address (letter/cards only)
Harry Porter - AFM - Anc. Serv

VIA CREW MAIL
15872 State Hwy. 110 N.
Lindale, TX 75771 


"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" 
Micah 6:8 



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