From a Deadly Diagnosis to a New Life

Melbin is a farm worker who lives with his wife in a rural community in Honduras. For the past three years, it has been impossible for him to find permanent work because of a tumor that has been growing on his jaw. “People have discriminated against me,” Melbin told us. “They said, ‘What happened to you? Why is your face swollen?’ I had to tell them it was a tooth so I wouldn’t have to explain.” 

Melbin said he worked for anyone that would hire him. “One day I was digging a ditch with a pick ax. I started to work, but when the sun got hot I started to bleed from inside my mouth. My foreman told me to leave.”  

Melbin and his wife live with his parents, who have been supporting him. “I felt terrible, I couldn't do anything to fix my situation, even if I wanted to. I felt powerless,” he said.   

Melbin told us his dad gave him money to go to the city for medical tests. There a specialist told him that he had a benign tumor and that he needed to have it removed. Without an operation the doctor said that the tumor would grow causing him to lose hearing in his left ear. He said left untreated the tumor would kill him.      

“At the clinic they said ‘take care of yourself and don’t go out in the sun. Come back with the money or we cannot do surgery.’ I could not because I didn’t have the money.”  

Then a staff member at the clinic told him about an organization that might be able to help: Operation Blessing. We met with Melbin and gave him the good news.

“When Operation Blessing told me that they could help me, it was the best news I have ever received in my life!” he said with both relief and joy.  

Operation Blessing then arranged for Melbin to receive the surgery he needed. In a complex procedure, a surgeon removed the tumor and part of his jaw and replaced it with a 3-D printed prosthetic bone!  His face and jaw now look amazing!  “I thank God and all of the donors for helping me. I am grateful because they have changed my life!” he said with a smile.