In 1996, a sudden, inexplicable swelling was noticed on Sitsofe Ametefe’s chin, which initially was associated with a bee sting. Slowly but continuously the tumour grew and finally reached the size of a grapefruit. According to the statement of the doctor in attendance in Hohoe, Volta region, Dr. Mike Tsegbe, it was a tumour which needed to be operated immediately. The examination in a clinic in Ghana had shown that this operation could not be performed there. In changing intervals, Sitsofe Ametefe had complained about more or less strong headaches. Meanwhile, the teeth in his lower jaw were all crooked and deformed. For years it had been impossible for Sitsofe to attend school because he had difficulty concentrating, and his class-mates were constantly teasing him. This was an emotional pressure he could not cope with any longer.

On 30th April 2002, Sitsofe Ametefe arrived in Hamburg where preliminary examinations were carried out. The initial examinations by Dr. Martin Zellner at the Ahrensburg Hospital revealed that a large part of the lower jaw had already been destroyed. The operation was extremely urgent as chewing became more and more problematic all the time, and so nourishment was largely limited to soft food while the tumour continued growing at a faster speed. It became obvious that several major operations would have to be carried out in order to remove the tumour and reconstruct the jaw.

We thank the team of the Ahrensburg Hospital for their commitment, for carrying out the preliminary examinations free of charge and for the sympathy shown for Sitsofe’s fate. Furthermore the society wishes to thank Dr. Dr. Bock in Hamburg for the examinations he has carried out and for the withdrawal of a tissue sample.

At the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Krefeld-Uerdingen doctors have now not only remodelled Sitsofe’s face, but they have also given him a new life. In Ghana, he was considered to be under a spell. He was treated like an outcast and avoided - even by grown-ups. Prof. Dr. Dr. Heinz Bull and his team operated on Sitsofe free of charge so that the money donated could be used to pay the hospital and nursing charges. The operation lasted for five hours. The tumour had to be removed from the inside through the mouth so that no scars would be visible on his face later on. Although the tumour, which weighed more than 500 grams, was not malignant, it had already destroyed a large part of the lower jaw. Therefore, the doctors had to provisionally implant a dental plate made of titanium.

The plan is to wait for one year. After that, it is hoped that Sitsofe will receive a new lower jaw made of transplanted bone mass taken from his pelvis. This is extremely necessary because at the moment he can only eat liquid food as he has no teeth in his lower jaw and dentures can only be embedded in natural bone material. This operation along with all the necessary expenses for the air ticket, hospital and nursing charges etc. will again cost around 30.000 Euros, even though Prof. Dr. Dr. Bull has already agreed to perform the operation itself free of charge once more.

On July 5th 2002, Sitsofe returned to his country where he began a new life: he goes to school again and is free of pain.

Should you wish to help Sitsofe who is in Ghana just hoping so, you can donate for him. Just click here. The society urgently needs money in order to be able to arrange for Sitsofe to come to Germany once again for the second operation.