It’s been three weeks, three weeks since we drove to Kumasi and then on to Accra with Ali Abukari and his son Jamaldeen so Ali could undergo a major operation. Back in September, Ali complained of right chest pain and x-rays revealed a huge mass in the right upper chest. Subsequent studies proved this mass was a gigantic cyst with thick walls; however, how could Ali get the help he needed?
The Ghanaians say, “God is wonderful!” and He truly is. 21 years ago, we helped Hudu Ussif, a.k.a. Lazarus, get a life-saving heart operation at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. Lazarus’ surgeon was Dr. Lawrence Sereboe, the Head of the Cardiothoracic Unit, and a personal friend. Now that Ali needed surgery, we visited Dr. Sereboe and planned for Ali to be operated at St. Michael’s Specialist Hospital in the Lapaz part of Accra.
Dr. Sereboe operated Ali on the evening of January 21, 2025. Ali went to the operation theater at 5:40 PM. When Bob, Henry Afriyie, Jamaldeen and I passed four hours of waiting time, we began having a fairly noisy prayer meeting in the waiting area. Ali’s operation actually took about 3 hours and he did beautifully. By the following morning, chest x-rays demonstrated normal lungs, no retained fluid, and normal chest architecture. Ali remained in hospital for another six days, being discharged on Monday January 27th. After a period of healing, Dr. Sereboe released Ali from follow-up, allowing him to book bus tickets for the trip north.
I rushed through rounds in the NICU and the Peds Ward this morning, and Bob and I ran to Yendi, where Ali and Jamaldeen were just getting off the bus. Ali looks great, albeit a bit tired after an all-night trip from Accra.
We wish to thank all our friends and supporters who have been praying for Ali, Jamaldeen, and the rest of the family. All we can say is, “Look what the Lord has done!” May God our Heavenly Father bless all of you who have been involved in this situation in any way.
Remember, there’s always “Victory in Jesus!”
Uncle Bob and Dr. Jean Young “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a Ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
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