by Xinhua writers Hua Hongli, Lucas Liganga

DAR ES SALAAM, June 6 (Xinhua) -- For 50-year-old Zanzibari Abdi Mussa Khamis, every glance at the mirror was once a painful reminder of the two abnormal swellings near his right eye.

One was soft and round, like a ping-pong ball, while the other was hard and egg-shaped. As the masses grew, they weighed down his eyelid and distorted his face.

The disfigurement cut deeper than appearances. It left Abdi feeling unworthy of attention, unwelcome in photographs, and uneasy even with his reflection.

He used to wear a hat every day. "It was never a fashion statement. It was a shield," he said.

Hope arrived when the 34th Chinese medical team in Tanzania's Zanzibar began offering free consultations at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. Abdi hesitated at first, but eventually decided to walk into the ophthalmology clinic -- an act that would change his life.

There, he met Zhou Shi, a Chinese ophthalmologist.

"I noticed how he tried to hide his face, but I didn't look away," Zhou recalled. "I listened carefully and examined him thoroughly. I knew this wasn't just about tumors."

"It was about dignity," said Zhou.

She immediately arranged a magnetic resonance imaging scan, working with radiologist Zhang Jiandong to get a full picture of the condition. The results confirmed its complexity. Zhou called together a multidisciplinary team of doctors to craft a precise surgical plan.

"We are not just removing growths," she told her team. "We're helping him reclaim his life."

Anesthesiologist Li Guangming tailored a sedation plan to minimize risk. Qin Shanshan, director of gynecology, volunteered to assist.

"Each member of the Chinese medical team, though from different backgrounds, united to help me," Abdi said.

The surgery was performed with care and confidence. The next morning, in a small recovery ward, Abdi slowly unwrapped his bandages. What he saw in the mirror left him speechless.

"The lumps were gone, and my face was whole again," Abdi said, eyes brimming with tears. Reaching for the mirror, he whispered, "I don't need the hat anymore."

"This is more than a story of surgery. It is a story of what compassion and collaboration across borders can achieve," said Chen Wei, head of the Chinese medical team.

Through joint efforts between Chinese and Tanzanian medical professionals, Abdi's life was not just improved -- it was transformed.

After his recovery, Abdi walked out of the hospital and into the sunlight, with nothing left to hide. Behind him, the Chinese doctors stood ready for the next patient, continuing their mission to bring healing and hope where it is needed most. ■