Teacher Returns To Classroom Unrecognizable After Life-Changing Surgery
Auguste before and after his tumor was removed. TIRSA TAPIA/ MERCY SHIPS VIA SWNS. “> DAKAR, Senegal — A teacher who had to quit due to having a melon-sized tumor on his face is unrecognizable and back at work…
Auguste before and after his tumor was removed. TIRSA TAPIA/ MERCY SHIPS VIA SWNS.
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DAKAR, Senegal — A teacher who had to quit due to having a melon-sized tumor on his face is unrecognizable and back at work after surgery.
Auguste, 64, developed a small spot on his jaw 13 years ago at the age of 51. It grew over the years until it was the size of a melon.
The grandfather quit his beloved job as a headteacher in 2018 because talking, eating, and sleeping became difficult.
Auguste, from Dakar, Senegal, tried to find a treatment for years but struggled – until he was advised to visit the hospital ship Mercy Ships, which happened to be docked nearby.
He met with a volunteer surgeon on board and was booked in for the life-changing surgery to fully remove the growth.
On March 13, 2023, he went under the knife and woke up to see his face tumour-free for the first time in over a decade.
Despite being of retirement age, he even returned to work because he sees teaching as his ‘calling.’
Auguste said: “I’m only here to help underprivileged and orphaned children – to teach them if I have the means.”
After the tumor started to grow and he quit his beloved job, Auguste found himself becoming a recluse.
He claims neighbors would even avoid him because they feared his condition was contagious.
He said at the time: “All of my activities have stopped. I don’t really do anything.”
Auguste searched unsuccessfully for years for surgical care—until the day he heard that Mercy Ships had come to the port of Dakar, only 10 miles from his home.
