LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- When 17-year-old Isaac Kayu arrived in Louisville from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the tumor on his face was so massive, it was almost alarming.
”Most people that first saw him would be taken aback a bit," said Kelly Richardson, who's Kayu's host parent.
For the last two months, Richardson, her husband and their children have served as Kayu's host family.
He was able to come to Louisville with the help of Healing with Children - Kentucky, a grant from the Norton Children's Hospital Foundation and the Doris Whittenberg Fund at the Community Foundation of Louisville.
”Oh my gosh," Richardson said. "They showed him such a good time. They loved him immediately, taking him to the fair and bowling and sushi and just teaching him how to play pool. They just loved on him immediately and delighted in watching him discover things that he'd never seen before."
Isaac Kayu had a massive tumor in his mouth but had successful surgery at Norton Children's Hospital to have it removed. (Source: Norton Children's)
In August, doctors at Norton Children’s Hospital took on the delicate and dangerous craniofacial surgery and gave Kayu not just his health back, but his smile.
They used a leg bone to reconstruct part of his jaw.
”It's a benign tumor," said Dr. Suzanne Barnes, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Norton Children's Hospital. "So, it is a non-malignant, non-cancerous tumor. It's something that typically, if we see this here in the States, it would be taken care of fairly simply."
Wednesday afternoon, Kayu's care team threw him a going-away party and was joined by actress CCH Pounder, who helped make his journey possible.
”When I saw Isaac’s story, I knew I had to be a part of it," Pounder said. "This is why we do this work.”
For Kayu, it’s a chance to go home and finally be seen for the boy he truly is.
”I was very happy," Kayu said through an interpreter. "Feeling strong, fitting, very courageous."
From Louisville to Congo, it has been a journey fueled by skill, generosity and a lot of love and even some sadness.
“I'm not happy," Kayu said through an interpreter. "Yeah, I'm not. But I have to say the truth. I'm not happy.”
As he prepares to go back home, Kayu admits he’s not really looking forward to leaving his new family and friends.
For his host family, the feeling is mutual.
”He is leaving next Tuesday, September 16," Richardson said. "It's going to be a tough goodbye. But I know that God has wonderful things planned for him back home."
No more surgeries are required and doctors said his face will continue to heal and get smaller over time.
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