Emmanuel Mensah

Start Date: Feb 2, 2013 12:00 AM
End Date: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM

While on a Medical Brigade to Ghana in January, Penn State met a young man, Emmanuel Mensah, who suffers from a large facial tumor that impedes his sight and vision. Their chapter was immediately drawn to act and help this young man. After Global Brigades consulted Emmanuel, they also discovered that his tumor was hurting his quality of life, not only because of his decreased sight and vision, but also because he has a hard time making friends. Penn State is now supporting Emmanuel\'s case to have the tumor removed and encourages you to read more about Emmanuel and donate to this young man\'s cause!

Recently, after Emmanuel had taken the initiative to go to the National Health Insurance Scheme Office in Salt Pond to renew his health insurance, Global Brigades accompanied him and his uncle to Korle-Bu teaching hospital in Accra. At this visit, doctors identified Emmanuel has having neurofibromatosis, which can be a genetic disorder that creates the tumors of the kind that Emmanuel suffers from.

Doctors at Korle-Bu consulted with Emmanuel and his uncle to decide that surgery between a plastic surgeon and a maxillofacial surgeon would be necessary to remove the tumor and improve Emmanuel\'s quality of life.

After this consultation, Global Brigades was notified that Emmanuel needed a Full Blood Count and biopsy of the tumor before doctors can proceed with the surgery. While he was able to get the blood drawn on his initial visit, Emmanuel and his uncle will need to travel back to Accra to get the biopsy. After that, doctors can determine the exact path of action (as well as the price) of his surgery.

Please help us to send Emmanuel back to Korle-Bu for his biopsy, and then for his life-changing surgery as well. Thank you for your support!