A 12-year-old girl can finally smile after a doctors removed a deadly tumour that had taken over her face.

Kaltoumi was being slowly suffocated to death by the tumour as it restricted her breathing and made it almost impossible to eat.

she was given just three months to live after it slowly took over her face over five years.

But she was saved after surgeons aboard the Africa Mercy – a hospital ship providing care to third world countries – docked in Cameroon to perform surgery.

Kaltoumi – who can finally smile and eat properly for the first time in five years – said after the surgery: “It feels like a heaviness has been lifted from me.”

The tumour slowly took over her face over five years

She was saved at the last gasp as surgeons aboard the Africa Mercy – a hospital ship providing care to third world countries

Dr Gary Parker, surgeon and chief medical officer, described Kaltoumi as the “poster child” for five billion people unable to access “timely, affordable, safe surgery” in impoverished countries on the continent.

He added: “Because of lack of access to the care she needed, a 12-year-old girl ended up with a massive tumour threatening her life.

“A man becomes a creature of his uniform.

“The ‘uniform’ that’s put on someone like Kaltoumi, as this tumour relentlessly enlarges, is that you’re cursed.

The growth was slowly suffocating her to death

Kaltoumi saw her new face in the mirror the next day – and beamed the smile of her seven-year-old self 

“You’re not a worthy member of this human race. When that uniform changes, dramatic things can happen Who you are, which has been lost for all these years, starts to bubble back up again.”

The Cameroonian government flew Kaltoumi to the port where the Africa docked – and the surgical team worked tirelessly – with precision – to remove the tumour.

Kaltoumi saw her new face in the mirror the next day – and beamed the smile of her seven-year-old self.

But the road to recovery was long and she returned to the ship several months later to tighten the skin where the tumour sat.

Crew rallied around Kaltoumi, showering her with affection and friendship.

Kaltoumi with the hospital team after her surgery

She formed a sisterly bond with volunteer Carys Parker, a chaplain on-board.

Carys said: “When I first met her, she was reserved and tentative to try new games and activities with me, but within a matter of weeks I found it impossible to see Kaltoumi without hearing her laughter and being body slammed by one of her hugs.

“She loves life and she wants to share that love and joy with others. It truly does take a village to bring about such amazing change.”

Kaltoumi dreams of returning to school and finishing her education. She also wants to expand her family’s farm and help sell produce at the local market.

“She has the potential to be a world-changer because she has the determination to never give up,” said Dr. Parker.

Her biggest dream is to one day be able to marry and have a family of her own – a future that feels possible without the weight of a life-threatening tumour.