Aissa

NOTE: Some of the pictures shown below are medically graphic and are not suitable for kids. I'm not showing these for shock value, only to show that God is good and he provides for all his children.

A lot of what I know about Aissa is secondhand and, while I spent lots of time playing with her, I am certainly not one of the most qualified people to tell her story. But, here goes...

Sarah was working with an NGO (non-governmental organization) in Cameroon when she came across Aissa. She found her skeletal, unable to walk or feed herself, on the doorstep of the orphanage with a dirty cloth covering half of her face. It covered a gaping hole where Noma had been ravaging her face. Noma is a disease that is caused by malnutrition, eats away at the face and cheek tissue, and is fatal in 90% of cases.

She was hospitalized but the family was going to return home with her after four days because they could not pay for the medical bill. Her bill was picked up by an NGO and she nursed back to a healthy weight.

Her photos were sent to Mercy Ships and she got the news that she would be coming to receive the plastic surgery that would make her look like all the other kids. Another NGO paid for her flight and she got on a plane to Togo.

This little girl who almost died, just one year ago, had now been placed into the hands of specialists that were able to give her back her face. As she recovers in the wards she is loved by nurse and translators. I got to spend some time with her on the wards as she would always help me put supplies onto the shelves together. She loved to be a part of what we were doing, no matter what it was.

She's now gone to the hospitality center (which is where they go when they don't need to be in the ward anymore but still need to come back for dressing changes. She'll be back Monday for her last dressing change and then she'll go home. She'll go back to her village and show off her new, beautiful, smiling face.

Below are the pictures of how God took her from certain death to a chance at a real life.

4 days after she was found.

Hanging out with Sarah in Cameroon. She is finally healthy and will smile.

Smiling at the hospital in Cameroon

The team of surgeons works on giving Aissa a new face.

Aissa and one of the OR nurses

Aissa sees herself in a mirror after surgery

After her surgery and skin graft. There is still much more healing to go, but she has got a great start.

Aissa and Sarah share a moment in the ward

Aissa now has hope for a bright future. God has given his beautiful girl a new beautiful face.