 His wife left him, people in his village thought he was a devil, and no one would hire him to work. But the arrival of the Africa Mercy and the prospect of free surgery brought Lawson hope. He was immediately admitted to the hospital with surgery the next day. It took three volunteer doctors eight hours to remove the benign growth and repair his nose, upper lip, and cheek. Later in recovery, Lawson was overjoyed when he touched the bandages on his cheek. The tumor was gone.