A 12-year-old girl can finally smile and eat properly after surgeons removed a football-sized tumour engulfing her face that was killing her.
Known only as Kaltoumi, she was given three months to live as the mass restricted her eating and slowly suffocated her as it grew over five years.
But she was saved after medics aboard the Africa Mercy - a hospital ship providing care to third world countries - docked in Cameroon to perform surgery.
Kaltoumi - who can finally smile and eat properly for the first time in five years - said after the surgery: 'It feels like a heaviness has been lifted from me.'
Known only as Kaltoumi, she was given three months to live as the mass restricted her eating and slowly suffocated her as it grew over five years
Dr Gary Parker, a chief medical officer of the charity, described Kaltoumi as the 'poster child' for five billion people unable to access 'timely, affordable, safe surgery' in impoverished countries on the continent.
He added: 'Because of lack of access to the care she needed, a 12-year-old girl ended up with a massive tumour threatening her life.
'A man becomes a creature of his uniform.
'The "uniform" that's put on someone like Kaltoumi, as this tumour relentlessly enlarges, is that you're cursed.'
The Cameroonian government flew Kaltoumi to the port where Africa docked - and the surgical team worked tirelessly - with precision - to remove a tumour.
Kaltoumi saw her new face in the mirror the next day.
But she was saved after surgeons aboard the Africa Mercy - a hospital ship providing care to third world countries - docked in Cameroon to perform surgery
Kaltoumi - who can finally smile and eat properly for the first time in five years - said after the surgery: 'It feels like a heaviness has been lifted from me'
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