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Baby with large tumor on neck gets life-saving surgery to remove it

On March 18 Royal London Hospital Maxillofacial Head and Neck Surgeon Leo Cheng operated aboard the Global Mercy in Freetown to remove a neck tumor from 10‑month‑old Memunatu, saving her life.
When the lump first appeared, local clinicians mistook it for a cold and local hospitals in Port Loko said Memunatu was too young for surgery, but Mercy Ships volunteer Anne‑Marie Van Tonder referred Aminata and Memunatu to the Global Mercy.
Under anaesthesia, the team managed a challenging intubation as Memunatu was under anaesthesia for about five hours during the nearly four-hour operation, with surgeon Leo Cheng describing his meticulous approach.
Weeks after surgery, her recovery on the Global Mercy saw Memunatu's neck heal and swelling subside, while Anne‑Marie Van Tonder said she felt great joy at the family's relief.
The case underscores that since 2023 the Global Mercy has provided more than 3,630 free surgeries in sub‑Saharan Africa, while an estimated five billion people lack access to safe surgical care.

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