In July of this year, Mercy Yango, a woman from Monrovia, Liberia, in West Africa, made the 5,020-mile journey from the Motherland to Detroit for what has been called a lifesaving heart surgery at Henry Ford Health. Before arriving in the Motor City, doctors in Liberia had exhausted every option possible to provide the critical medical help Yango needed. Time and options to save Yango’s life were fading fast.
Nevertheless, a ministry team in Liberia contacted Rev. Dr. Jim Holley, founder of an international ministry bearing his name based in Detroit, asking for his help. Holley vowed to render assistance, but didn’t know if he could do enough in time.
However, after Holley contacted Dr. Wassim Younes, a friend living in Dearborn, Michigan, the wheels of progress started turning when Younes met with Dr. Usamah Mossallam, vice president and medical director of Henry Ford Health International Initiatives in Detroit. After a series of meetings that included Holley, an incredible medical team of specialists was formed, ready to move forward to save the life of Yango, who by now was in Detroit, housed at Hotel Saint Regis near Henry Ford Hospital, courtesy of caring individuals.
The wheel of progress sped faster when a regional foundation agreed to pay 60% of the total cost of the complicated heart surgery, which was tagged at approximately $450,000. Holley agreed to pay the other 40%.
Today, four months after her successful heart surgery at Henry Ford, Yango, according to Holley, is almost ready to return to West Africa.
“Mercy is doing very well after the heart surgery,” Holley recently told the Michigan Chronicle. “I visit with her at least once a week while she’s recovering. Mercy will soon be able to return home to her three children and other family and friends in Liberia. This was a miracle from God for us to be able to save Mercy’s life here at Detroit’s Henry Ford Health Hospital.”
Over the last four months, Holley has been lauded for his role in bringing Yango to Detroit from West Africa for the critical heart surgery. Holley, however, refuses to take full credit for the herculean task involving dozens of medical personnel and charitable individuals and organizations in greater Detroit.
“There is no way in the world that I would have been able to do something on this level without Henry Ford Health, a dedicated medical team of specialists, and caring individuals,” Holley said. “There were many conversations between entities about how we would get this done and how to pay for it. In the end, it was a hugely successful team effort led by God.”
Holley said it’s impossible to name each medical team member and philanthropic person involved with the “Mercy Yango Miracle Story.” However, Holley, the retired senior pastor of the Historic Little Rock Baptist Church after 50 years, has praised the involvement of Dr. Wassim Younes, Attorney David Femminineo, and Abdul Saleh.
“Dr. Wassim Younes is a good friend who was instrumental in facilitating the early stages of identifying a medical facility in the area capable and willing to take on the life-saving heart surgery,” Holley said. “Dr. Younes refused to take ‘no’ for an answer and kept trying to make the surgery possible by hearing ‘yes’ numerous times. Without Dr. Younes, I’m not sure if the surgery would have been possible because he was the connector that led to Dr. Usamah Mossallam and Henry Ford Health International Initiatives involvement.”
“Attorney David Femminineo has been tremendous in helping me to raise funds to defray the cost of the 40% of the medical expenses I promised to pay,” Holley said about the Mount Clemens-based attorney specializing in personal injury, tragedy, and loss. “When I reached out to him about Mercy Yango, he reached back and was eager to help. He wanted to be involved and has been gracious with his time and donations to the Rev. Dr. Jim Holley International Ministries on behalf of Mercy Yango.”
Holley also spoke glowingly about Abdul Saleh, vice president of City Recyclers Inc. in Dearborn Heights.
“Abdul Saleh is someone who also cares deeply about people, regardless of race, creed or color,” Holley said. “He helped me, for the most part, with funds to take care of Mercy’s housing and food needs which have been substantial. Abdul is a humanitarian who wants to do things to make things better for those in real need.”
Holley said that he is also appreciative to the people of Detroit and surrounding region for supporting Yango, whether it was making a donation or lifting her in prayer. The Yango family in Liberia has also expressed its gratitude to the medical, philanthropic, and diverse communities of Detroit and surrounding cities.
“We are grateful to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., and the foundation that made this surgery possible,” said Mercy’s mother (Esther Yango) and aunt (Ophelia Yango) who traveled to Detroit from Liberia for the operation but have since returned home. “We are also grateful to the owners, management, and staff at Hotel Saint Regis for their complimentary and gracious hospitality. We are so grateful to Rev. Dr. Holley and his Rev. Dr. Jim Holley International Ministries for doing everything possible to bring Mercy to Detroit, a trip that saved her life. And we are grateful to the many Detroiters we’ve met while we were in Detroit and showed us kindness and love during this difficult time.”
While the plans are for Yango to return to Liberia in a few months, Holley said he and the concerned contingent of medical personnel and philanthropic individuals and entities want to make sure that she continues to recover and receive what she needs to live a long life in her native country.
“We are still raising funds because the medical bills are still tremendously high,” Holley said. “Right now, we are in the mode of getting Mercy to the point where she can go home and live independently. However, we want to be able to supply all of her medical needs every three months. When Mercy returns home, we want to find ways to support her as much as possible.”
About Post Author
