Infant On Board

Imagine being born into this world struggling to breathe. It’s been nice and warm inside your mother’s stomach for nine wonderful months and all of a sudden you are thrust into bright lights gasping for air.


Born in Kpalime, Togo at the American Baptist World Evangelist Hospital (ABWE), that was exactly Kossi’s experience. There are many countries across the world where Kossi could have been born, but God chose a primitive African setting to be his home.

Not many Togolese babies are lucky enough to be born in hospitals. It was a blessing that Akoua, Kossi’s mother, was able to give birth to him under the care of a doctor. Akoua struggled during labor and required a c-section. The moment Kossi was brought into this world, there were complications.

There was a cystic lesion on the topside of his tongue that made it twice the size of a normal newborn baby’s tongue. He was unable to get proper nutrition because he was couldn’t suck to breastfeed. If the lesion was not removed Kossi could starve to death. Dr. Russ Ebersole of the ABWE Hospital knew that Kossi needed treatment beyond what he could provide. Dr. Russ picked up the phone and called his friends at Mercy Ships.

Rachel Dix, Mercy Ships Screening Coordinator, picked up the phone. She was precisely the Mercy Ships crew member he needed to speak to! Dr. Russ explained Kossi’s situation to Rachel. She checked with the ward supervisor and asked the surgeons if they could squeeze a newborn baby into their very tight schedule. Dr. Leo Cheng, a maxillo-facial surgeon on the ship from Cambridge, England, agreed to do the surgery. Rachel called Dr. Russ and gave him the go-ahead. Just a few hours after entering this world Kossi and his parents received approval to come to Lomé and be admitted onto the ward of the Africa Mercy for surgery.

Overwhelmed and still recovering from a C-section, Akoua tried to soak in the news. In a span of a few hours the doctor had told her that her newborn needed immediate surgery. In order to get the care he needed, she and her husband, Kodjo, would have to travel three hours to the capital city of Lome to get to the hospital. A hospital which, oddly, was on a ship. That was a lot of information to absorb.

One blessing was that Kodjo was a taxi driver. As soon as Akoua felt strong enough to travel, they loaded up the taxi with the precious new life God had given them, and headed south on the open road.

A few hours later the couple pulled their car onto the dock of the Africa Mercy. They’d never seen anything like it in their lives.

“It was so tall. And bright white. We’ve never even been to a port,” said Kodjo, “We were told the ship was leaving soon, so we arrived as quickly as we could.”

Rachel was notified of their arrival and walked down the gangway to meet the adorable bundle of joy. She greeted the parents, and then took Kossi in her arms. She walked them onto the ship and then down into the Hospital.

Kossi was welcomed and immediately adored by every single nurse on the ship. It was so exciting to have a newborn on the ward. Kossi and his parents settled into in the ward--Akoua and Kossi snuggled up in one bed and dad just next to them.

Surgery day was upon them and the nervousness on Akoua’s face was evident. It is not common that a five-day-old baby has surgery, especially on a ship! But she knew it was necessary for his survival. And she trusted Mercy Ships—they had been so kind to her since she arrived. “Regardless,” she said just before sending her precious baby into the operating room, “This is our last child.” Insinuating that the stress of Kossi’s medical condition was enough for them to handle.

Kossi was carried into the operating room, and Dr. Leo performed the surgery. Everything went great and there were no complications. A few hours later precious little Kossi was back in the ward snuggling with his mother. The only trace of surgery was the handful of blue stitches dotting his flat tongue.

Kossi and his mother stayed in the ward for a week to ensure a complete recovery. On his rounds, Dr. Leo checked in with the infant. Dr. Leo explained Kossi’s situation, “The threat of this lesion was very serious. Because was tongue convex [and not concave like a normal tongue] he couldn’t breast feed at all. That was the first problem. The second problem was that if the lesion grew larger, it could shut off his airway.”

During recovery, the nurses taught Akoua a new method to feed Kossi. Used by babies with cleft lip and/or palate, the cup method is a way to ensure the formula gets into the infant’s body without him/her spitting up the food. By the end of the stay on the ward, Kossi was drinking from a small cup, and even taking a bottle.

The time came for Kossi and his parents to return to their home near Kpalime. Dr. Russ at the American Baptist World Evangelist Hospital had requested that they check in with him when they return from the ship. The collaboration between ABWE and Mercy Ships is a wonderful relationship that has saved many lives. Five-day-old Kossi will not remember his time on Mercy Ships, but his parents will never forget their live-saving visit to the big white Hospital ship.

Noelie's survival

Noelie is not your average 22 –year-old. She has struggled much of her life. Many people go through hardships, especially in Western Africa, but Noelie has endured difficulties in many ways. This is not the first time Mercy Ships has been called upon to lend a hand in her life.

Noelie grew up in Lomé, Togo, a city on the coast of Western Africa. When she was 15, Noelie was experiencing a growth inside her face, near her left eye. At that time, Mercy Ships was in Togo and Noelie had surgery on the Anastasis. Mercy Ships surgeons removed as much of the tumor as they could in a process called de-bulking.

With a regular life restored, Noelie went back to living as usual. She met a man, married him and moved to Benin. She gave birth to two children. Around the time she was pregnant with her second child, the tumor on her face returned. This time, it grew back larger than before. At this point, her husband left her. He saw no need for a wife who was not “normal.” Noelie had no money to go to the doctor, and she had no idea if Mercy Ships would ever come to Benin or Togo.

When the tumor returned the second time, it was much more severe than the first occurrence. The growth was concentrated inside her cheek, jaw, and eye. It began pushing her left eye up, and out. Noelie strained to see out of this eye. Along with the strained vision, her appearance was distorted; one eye much higher than the other.

Five years after her first surgery, and feeling alone and dejected, Noelie moved back to Lomé with her children. That is when her life in hiding began.

“I decided not to go out. I would stay in the house all day. People would ask me why I look that way. ‘What is wrong with you?’ They would say. It hurt me inside.” At this point Noelie was barely past her teenage years with no husband and 2 children. She had hit the lowest point of her life at the tender age of twenty.

She couldn’t wallow in her sorrow forever. Though she was upset and depressed, her children depended on her. She needed desperately needed a change. Her sister stepped in and was able to lift Noelie’s spirits.

“My sister told me: ‘You cannot stay in here like this. You are a human being. You need to be interacting with other people. This is no way to live.’ So, after that, I decided she was right. Living inside is no way to go about life.”

Noelie decided that the best way to get out of the house was to get a job. She had a skill that needed to be put to use. She always loved fixing hair, so she went to school and became a hairdresser. Eventually, she began working as the second hair dresser in a Coiffure (hair salon) in Lomé.

Work helped distract her from the tumor growing inside her face. But it was never too far out of her mind. Noelie lay in bed at night wondering if she would ever have surgery again to fix her eye. Work was helping her gain confidence to be among other people, she still dreamed of a normal face.

Would the Mercy Ship ever return, she wondered?

Then, one day, Noelie was at work when she heard the news she had been waiting to hear for several years. An announcement on the radio revealed that Mercy Ships was coming back to Togo! Noelie was overwhelmed with joy. She walked home from work that day and couldn’t stop smiling.

“I couldn’t believe it. I thought, maybe Mercy Ships would be able to help me the way they did before,” Noelie said.

Noelie attended screening when the time came and was approved for surgery. It had been seven years since her previous surgery, and she was returning to the big white hospital ship once again: with the hope of being healed. This ship was larger than before. It was a new ship. A nurse explained to her that during the time since the last visit to Togo, Mercy Ships had purchased a larger ship—the Africa Mercy.

Once on board, Dr. Leo Cheng, maxillo facial surgeon, took a look at Noelie.

“I was mainly concerned with her eye. The tumor was pushing her eye up and putting a lot of pressure on it. If that part of the tumor was not removed, she could go blind,” said Dr. Leo.

Noelie went into surgery for de-bulking, the same process as before. Dr. Leo removed the majority of the tumor. Noelie was insistent she keep her teeth and her mouth intact. If Dr. Leo attempted to remove the entire tumor, he would have to take out her whole jaw and do an entire facial re-construction requiring multiple surgeries to re-shape her face. This may be a viable option down the road, but de-bulking is the best choice given her age.

“During Noelie’s surgery, I removed the top half of the upper jawbone, right hand side of the cheekbone and put a titanium plate in her face that is now supporting her eye,” Dr. Leo said.

Noelie came out of surgery and was taken to the recovery room. For the first few days after surgery, her face was swollen and tracked with stitches. But her spirits were high. She interacted with the nurses and other patients on the ward. Though her faced was scarred, her eyes were finally evening out.

When she looked in the mirror, she saw a glimpse of her former self.

“I’m so amazed at what the doctors can do here. More than any other patient, I thank Mercy Ships so much—they have helped me not once, but twice,” Noelie says.

Dr. Leo reflects on her transformation, “You cannot do this in any hospitals in West Africa. There are many very capable surgeons here. But they do not have the equipment of the nursing staff to take care of patients after a major surgery. This ship is truly amazing in what we can do.”

Noelie, pre surgery, on the Anastasis in 2003.

Noelie after surgery in 2003.

Pre-op photo of her second surgery in 2010.

Noelie and Joanne

Noelie after surgery--Final Post Op day

And the Blind Shall See

Catherine Schwebel with Komlavi in his shop. Komilavi is sportin' his shades after his surgrey.

Inside Komlavi's Market shop---check out all the great stuff he sells/makes!

God watches over those of us who are believers. God was working overtime when it came to Lomé resident and market vendor, Komlavi Djikpo.

Catherine and Marty Schwebel, Chaplains aboard the Africa Mercy, were browsing through an artisan market with their sons when they met a very nice man who sold wooden sculptures. They liked him, and his crafts, so much that they referred all of their Mercy Ships friends to him for purchases! They took his card, and learned his name was Komlavi.

A few days later a few Mercy Ships crew members were out browsing the same artisan market when they began talking to one of the shop owners. He mentioned that he couldn’t see well out of his right eye. Alana Abernathy, a member of the eye team, took a look at Komlavi’s eye.

Alana recalls, “I took him over into the shade where I could see into his pupil better. Sure enough, I saw one of those dense, white cataracts. I was so happy!”

The Sculptor at work.

Seeing the cataract made Alana smile because she knew this was a problem that Mercy Ships could definitely solve. Alana wrote down the location of the eye care screening, and told Komlavi to come to the screening soon because criteria for cataract surgery were changing: he would only make the cut if he made it in the next couple of days.

A few days later Marty & Catherine were exercising in the port in front of the ship. They saw a man walking up to the ship and they recognized him.

“Marty, I think that is the man from the market!” Catherine said. They approached the man, and saw that it was Komlavi. They read the note written by Alana. They realized that he has encountered other Mercy Ship crew members, and it looked like we could help him. Marty and Catherine jumped in a Mercy Ships vehicle and drove Komlavi to the eye screening site and by the end of the day he was cleared for surgery.

Had it not been for 2 separate encounters with Komlavi, he may have never made it to screening. It was fate that put Marty & Catherine on the dock when Komlavi arrived.

“The Schwebels really connected the dots for this man,” said Marketing Director Mila Hightower. “They ensured that he was where he needed to be in order to get the proper screening. God definitely had a hand in this.”

Marty Schwebel comments, “We prayed for him and said, Lord, please make it be cataracts and let Dr. Strauss be able to do surgery on him.” And sure enough, Dr. Strauss was able to help Komlavi.

Now, after surgery, Komlavi is back in his market shop selling intricately carved wood sculptures and trinkets. Surgery is done but he must come back for one last procedure.

Six weeks after his cataract surgery, Komlavi returned to the Hospitality Center for a check-up and to receive his YAG laser procedure. This was a quick process and was performed by Mercy Ships Eye Specialist, Clyde Houston. The YAG laser was a painless shot of light sent into Komlavi’s eye. It is necessary to prevent blurriness or cloudy vision from returning after cataracts surgery.

Komlavi at the Hospitality Center getting his checkup.

Receiving the YAG procedure.

With Dr. Clyde Houston just after the YAG eye procedure.

“Komlavi was one of the best patients I did all day. He was extremely still. Many patients move or blink a lot. Komlavi did great,” said Clyde.

Jut after he received his YAG procedure it was time for the Celebration of Sight. The Celebration of Sight is a ceremony in which all of the cataract patients of Mercy Ships come together in one place, and celebrate their successful surgeries. Before, they all struggled to see clearly. Now, their sight was perfectly clear. Komlavi was no exception.

The ceremony began and there was singing and dancing. Komlavi sat quietly in the second row, assessing the situation. His eyes moved quickly observing the others who began clapping and dancing around him. Many patients felt the rhythm in their bodies, and got out of their seats to dance around. Komlavi was cautious at first. Then, he got up out of his seat, and joined the line of dancing men and women.

He was able to capture a few joyful moments with a small point and shoot camera. The smiles that surrounded him were contagious.

Then, a few patients stood up and to give their testimony. Komlavi, moved by the celebration and his wonderful experience with Mercy Ships, stood in front of the crowd, and told his story:

“My name is Komlavi Djikpo. I am a sculptor and a carpenter. A wood artist. I was having this eye problem for a long time, but I was unable to go to the hospital.
One day, I met some white people coming to my shop. They told me about mercy ships because I told them I was having an eye problem. They promised to help me. And they have helped me.
I came to the ship for the surgery and I have never gone into an operating room in my life. That day I was so scared. And I prayed that God would help me go through the process. I did not even know that they had done the surgery already. I did not feel anything. I just woke up and I found myself on the bed.
The next day when they took the patch off I was so happy because I could see clearly. And I’m very glad for what God has done for me and I’m praying that God helps anyone else who is willing to have such an opportunity. May God bless everybody.”

Komlavi’s testimony encouraged many people. The crowd raised their hands in praise, and clapped in amazement after he told his story.

Marty Schwebel was able to witness Komlavi’s testimony at the Celebration of Sight. It was like seeing this man’s story full-circle. At their initial meeting, Marty simply admired Komlavi’s fine craftsmanship. Now, Marty stood at the Celebration of Sight, witnessing Komlavi’s testimony. Komlavi can now see crystal clear out of both eyes, and Marty helped make that day happen.

“It was so nice seeing Komlavi sit amongst all those who were celebrating their restored vision. Komlavi is a very stoic, serious man but it was great to see him break into a smile as he thanked Mercy Ships and the Lord Jesus for healing him,” Marty said.

After riveting testimonies from three other cataracts patients, the Celebration of Sight came to a close. The patients in attendance thanked the Mercy Ships crew profusely for their patience, their attentiveness, and their caring.

Komlavi was so appreciative of Marty and Catherine, and Alana’s help to get him to Mercy Ships. Because of their patience, their attentiveness, and their caring, Komlavi now had crystal clear vision. His sculpting work for his shop will now greatly improve. He is excited about the opportunity ahead.

“Now that I am healed, and I can see out of my right eye, I think things will get better. Maybe, even, I can learn to make new things to sell in my shop. Thank you Mercy Ships.”

Interviewing Komlavi..."So, tell me how you felt when you came to the ship for surgery?"

He is the sweetest man on earth! I love him.

Catherine and Marty survey my interviewing skills.

Outside with Komlavi---and other eye patients in the background.

Celebration of Sight!

One of the Day Workers in charge of the Ceremony. Thanking the Lord for blessing all these wonderful people.

I gave Komlavi my camera to document the party.

Elaine and I enjoying ourselves :) Komlavi took more pictures of us than the crowd!

Komlavi giving his testamony.

Me telling Komlavi to take pics of other people!! (not me haha)

.....so, he just took pics of Tom instead!

The back of the Eye Team's scrubs.

Photographs mainly by the lovely TOM BRADLEY.....

intwertwined with a few from Catherine Schwebel and Komlavi (via my camera).

Pics of baby Kossi

Kossi with Moma, Akoua

Mom and dad give 5-day-old Kossi a little smooch!

CT scan for baby Kossi!! Ulrich does the work :)

Need to secure that little head :)

In he goes!

Ali, Nurse extraordinaire, and Kossi

Getting measured!

Tiny, tiny...

Baby Kossi

We were all in for a treat a few days ago when the Hospital recieved a call from Dr. Russ Ebersol at the Baptist Mission Hospital in Kpalime. Dr. Russ is a good associate of Mercy Ships and sometimes he refers patients to us.

Dr. Russ told us that he had a newborn baby who was having complications. The baby was born just 2 days ago and has a lesion on his tounge. The lesion is large, and prohibits the baby froming doing a sucking motion, which is the only way he can get food (from breastfeeding). Dr. Russ knew that the surgeons on board would be able to remove the lesion, and help this baby breath and eat (and most likely save his life).

We gave him the OK to send mom and dad and the newborn to Lomé, and to come on board the Africa Mercy.
So, Wednesday night, a 4 day-old baby arrived on the ship. He didn't even have a name at first, but soon after, the mother decided his name should be Kossi because he was born on Sunday.

Kossi is a precious, adorable little thing. A munchkin you just want to eat up!!! He had surgery this morning, and Dr. Leo Cheng was able to remove the lesion without problems.

I spoke with Dr. Leo after the surgery and he told me that nutrition was the main issue with the lesion on Kossi's tongue. Since he couldnt make a sucking motion, he couldn't breast feed at all. I asked if there were any hospitals in Togo that could perform this type of surgery---Dr. Leo said no.

"So, if we had not been here to remove this lesion, Kossi could have died?" I asked...

"Yes," Dr. Leo said, "The threat of the lesion growing to the point that it blocks the airway is a very real threat. If it continued to grow, Kossi could easily die of suffocation."

The level of care we give on the ship is unrivaled in most places in Western Africa. We use state-of-the-art equipment, with world class surgeons and some of the best nursing care around. Dr. Leo explained to me that even though there are very capable surgeons here in Lomé, the do  not have the instruments OR the nursing support needed to sustain a life after a very complicated surgery.

We are so glad that Kossi had the opportunity to come to the Ship for surgery, and we most definitely saved that very precious life today. It really puts a warm feeling in your heart. What a good Friday!! TGIF!!

Pics of cute Kossi coming soon.....

Happy Friday everyone :)

Romeo Touloulou

Romeo--when he arrived at the ship...just days old.

He was born with a Cleft Lip.

Baby Romeo Touloulou was born on February 25th, 2010. He came into this world with a cleft lip and palate, a condition seen more often in West Africa than in the developed world.

Romeo’s mother, Badokideou, wanted to know why his lip looked the way it did, and how she could fix it. She was told to go to the hospital in Lomé. A kind stranger at the Lomé, Togo hospital told her about Mercy Ships. This was a place—a ship—where she could go to receive free medical treatment. She was told that they perform cleft lip and palate surgeries.

Romeo arrived on the Africa Mercy when he was 1 week old.

Romeo’s condition was common and it was determined that surgery could be done: but he had to gain weight first. He was enrolled in Mercy Ship’s Infant Feeding Program. Because of the cleft lip and palate, it was difficult for Romeo to get the breast milk he needed to grow. The cleft palate allowed the milk to go into the hole in the roof of his mouth, causing him to spit up. He was not getting the nutrition he needed, and he weighted only 2.61kg.

Infant Feeding Program Nurse Melissa Davey worked with Badokideou, teaching her an alternative method of feeding. The cup method worked best for Romeo. Mercy Ships would give the mother formula and she would feed it to Romeo through a small plastic cup. Since he is not sucking to get his food, there is less spitting up and more of the formula goes into his stomach.

Time passed and sure enough, Romeo gained weight. He began to look healthy and strong. Romeo and Badokideou came to the ship once a week and Romeo would weigh-in and get measured. Then, they were given enough formula to last them the week, until they came back to the ship. He was making progress and Nurse Melissa Davey was confident he would be able to have surgery.

There was a certain weight goal he had to reach in order to be operated on. It was a good day when Romeo reached that goal and Mercy Ships performed surgery, repairing his cleft lip.

Here is Romeo after he had reached the appropriate weight to have surgery.

Even after the surgery, Badokideou has continued feeding Romeo via the cup method, yielding great results. Happily, Romeo has grown to 6.13 kg. Romeo still has a cleft palate that will have to be repaired at another time, but the Infant Feeding Program at Mercy Ships has given him a healthy start to life. If Badokideou had not been taught an alternate method of feeding Romeo, he may have suffered from malnutrition and his health could have declined drastically.

Thanks to Melissa and the rest of the Infant Feeding Program team, Romeo will have a chance at a healthy life. He was lucky to have been born at a time when the Africa Mercy was in port in Lomé, Togo. He had perfect timing, and now he is a healthy and happy 5-month-old boy.

I mean, adorable much?

Melissa and Romeo

Romeo and his beautiful mom.....Badokideou

FAT Romeo!! :)

Gafar....what a life he has had.

Close your eyes and try to imagine this life:

You are 11 years old. Your father is dead and your mother left you. You live with your uncle and 7 cousins in a cramped two-room home. You are alone. Lost in a world that is not your own. You have a tumor taking over the left side of your face. Each day you feel it growing. It is so large that your eye has been shut for four years and your ear is distorted. Again, you are alone. Thinking—how will I make it through this life?

This is what life is like for Gafar Alassani. Because of his home life and medical problem, he is timid, aloof, and self-conscious. When spoken to, he bows his head and does not answer. When Mercy Ships nurse Ali Chandra jokes with him he doesn’t even break a smile. You can tell he is in desperate need of some TLC: tender loving care.

Gafar has seen several doctors. They sent him home with medicine, but there have been no positive results. After Gafar’s father passed away, he moved in with his uncle. When word of the Mercy Ship’s arrival came to Gafar’s uncle, he realized this was a golden opportunity for Gafar to get the medical help he desperately needed.

Gafar was transported from his village, Sokode, to Lomé, where he stayed with another uncle. They attended Mercy Ships screening together and Gafar was given a surgery date. When that day arrived, Gafar and his uncle, Ouro-Koura, came to the ship and Gafar was prepped for surgery—his uncle by his side.

“Even though Gafar is not my son, I treat him like he is. I realize that sacrifices need to be made in order for Gafar to have a better life. He does not have a good life now—he is sad and his friends laugh at him. I knew it was something that needed to be fixed. So I am here, and I will stay here with him till he is better.” Ouro-Koura says of his time at Mercy Ships.

Assistant Ward Supervisor, Ali Chandra, worked attentively giving Gafar an IV. Nervous, Gafar clung to his uncle and buried his face in his chest. After several attempts the IV was finally in, and Gafar could breath easier. Surgery was the next day. His hopes were high, but the expression on his face was one of worry and concern. His surroundings were unfamiliar and he was hesitant to warm up to the jovial nurses who persistently tried to cheer him up.

During surgery Dr. Mark removed the tumor that was covering Gafar’s eye and distorting his ear. The mass inside his head had caused Gafar’s face to droop down, shifting his eye and ear down several centimeters. While in surgery, Dr. Mark hoped to lift that side of his face so his eyes and ears would be even with the right side.

Gafar was wheeled out of surgery and began his difficult recovery. A few days passed and the pain and soreness slowly began to dissipate. The swelling decreased and finally the day came that Gafar was ready to play and interact with a few other patients. Tani, a young girl recovering from sever burns, and Gafar became the heart and soul of D Ward.

Nurse Ali made a craft corner in the ward where they would string bead necklaces, make books, draw pictures and even oil paint on canvases. Before we knew it, Gafar had come out of his shell and was giggling, teasing and playing with all the nurses and Tani.

His personality transformation was simply one aspect of his makeover. His physical improvements were noticeable, as well. After weeks of recovery on the ward Gafar was crafting, as usual, when Ali took a moment to check out his eye. She lifted the bandage from his bad eye and asked him if he could see her. “Yes,” he said.

“Gafar, how many fingers?” Ali said as she held up her hand with all fingers. “Five.” He responded. Ali determined through talking to Gafar that it was the first time he had seen out of his left eye in four years.

His physical transformation was being able to see out of his left eye for the first time in four years since the tumor enveloped his eye and caused his lid to be permanently closed. His spirits have been flipped and lifted. Gafar is enjoying being a kid—and Mercy Ships was has given him back his childhood. One that, this time, will be filled with joy.


****My stories would never be complete without the brilliant photography of Tom Bradley. We work so well together!!! Check out his blog---he is truly talented.

Gafar sits on the famous bench!

This bench was on the Anastasis (ship prior to Africa Mercy) and every Mercy Ships patient who has ever had surgery with us sat on this very bench and was prayed for before entering surgery. Pretty cool.

Tom scrubbed in for Gafar's surgery! Going under...

Incision #1 has been made. Hang in there Gafar!!

The doctor takes a phone call mid-procedure :)

Gafar in Recovery. Sleeping soundly.

The first of many BIG smiles on his face---here Gafar is welcoming 2 new friends...Christian & Mercy are in for Cataract correction.

Craft Corner? Don't mind if I do! Bead necklace making.

He's a South African supporter!! World Cup mania on board the Africa Mercy.

Jesse Mitchell, Head Chef here on the ship, spends some time with Gafar in the ward.

I love it when he smiles! Pre-surgery we couldn't PAY him for a smile. Now, its a common occurrence.